The Maple Leafs are fuming over missed opportunities and their missing in action starting pitcher following their 9-6 loss to the London Majors Sunday afternoon in game two of their Intercounty Baseball League semi-final series at Dominico Field.
The Majors at one point led 8-1 as they held off a late charge from the locals to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
Marek Deska made an emergency start as Mike Wagner called Leafs owner Jack Dominico just hours before his scheduled start claiming car trouble.
“I told him to rent a car in Buffalo and get here when he could. That was the last I heard from him. He just disappeared after that.”Said a dejected Jack Dominico.
Deska on short rest (having pitched in Wednesday’s game seven victory) lasted just three innings allowing four runs (all earned) on five hits for the loss. He walked two and struckout three.
Cleveland Brownlee blasted a three run home run in the top of the third inning off Deska to end his day.
Adam Garner took over in the fourth inning and pitched the final six innings in relief as the Leafs were short on pitching out of the bullpen without having to burn another starting pitcher. He allowed five runs (four earned) on ten hits. He walked two and struckout three.
The Leafs had chances several times in the ball game to score a run or two in the early stages but lacked the timely hitting.
They finally got on the scoreboard for the first time in the series on a bases loaded single by Ryan White in the bottom of the fourth inning off Majors starter Oscar Perez to make it a 6-1 ball game
Jonathan Solazzo lofted a two run homer in the bottom of the sixth to make it 8-3.
The Leafs scored two more in the seventh to make to pull within three runs at 8-5 leaving the bases loaded
Brownlee deposited his second home run of the game over the fence in left field in the top of the ninth inning. He finished with four RBIs.
Carlos Arteaga added a pair of hits and drove in three RBIs while Mike Ambrose had four hits.
The Leafs scored a lone run in their last at bat to close out the scoring.
Perez got the win for the Majors who won their 14th in a row. He pitched six complete innings allowing three runs (all earned) on eight hits. He walked three and struckout six.
Solazzo led the Leafs at the plate with three hits, including a double and his home run while White added three hits , and two RBIs. Sean Mattson had three hits and three runs scored.
The series returns to London Tuesday night for game three scheduled for 7:35 p.m. at Labatt Park.
Ontario Baseball Guru 