Leafs Win Second Straight with Dramatic Extra-Innings Victory Over Majors

By Noam Streiffer

The Maple Leafs won their second game in a row, taking their second matchup with the London Majors in a dramatic extra-innings win on the road.

The Leafs entered their road trip on a two-game losing streak, looking to make up ground in the playoff race. They’ve done just that, winning two straight against formidable opponents.

Wilgenis Alvarado got the start for the Leafs and delivered a solid outing, pitching five innings and allowing just three runs while striking out four batters.

The Majors countered with Travis Keys, who pitched well, allowing two unearned runs over five innings of work.

The Leafs struck first in the top of the first. Jordan Castaldo came up with a two-out RBI base hit to capitalize on a Majors fielding error earlier in the inning.

The Majors answered back in the bottom of the second, scoring on a base hit from Dre Amaral. Amaral then came around to score on a Ken Sugi triple, and Sugi scored on a fielder’s choice from Toby Simmons to make it a 3–1 ballgame.

Things stayed quiet until the top of the fourth, when Marcus Knecht scored on a fielder’s choice from Dan Marra to cut the deficit to one.

The Leafs took the lead in the top of the seventh. Dan Marra came around to score on an RBI single from Ryan Dos Santos, who advanced to second on a throwing error. Rando Moreno followed with an RBI single to bring Santos home and give the Leafs a 4–3 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth, Sebastian Rodriguez came on in relief for the Leafs. The Majors tied the game on an RBI single from Champ Garner.

Rodriguez settled in after giving up the unearned run and locked things down in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings.

In extras, it was all Leafs. Marcus Knecht drove in the go-ahead run with a base hit to score Justin Marra. Spencer MacInnis then advanced Knecht with a beautifully placed sac bunt.

Following walks to Spenser Ross and Ryan Dos Santos, Jhon Javier came up with the bases loaded and two outs and delivered a clutch two-run single. Rando Moreno capped the inning with his second RBI single of the night, bringing the score to 8–4.

Rodriguez continued his dominance, stranding the Majors’ ghost runner in the bottom of the 10th to secure the win for the Leafs.

Up Next:

The Leafs return home to face the Brantford Red Sox on Sunday, June 1 at Dominico Field. First pitch is set for 2:00 PM.