Maple Leafs Blowout Red Sox to Win Third Game in a Row
BRANTFORD -- Above .500.
The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Brantford Red Sox 11-2 on Friday evening to improve to 6-5 on the season.
With the loss, the Red Sox remain winless with an 0-8 record.
Toronto starter Marek Deska picked up the win in his first start since he and his wife gave birth to their newborn a week ago.
The longtime Leafs hurler pitched five innings, allowing no earned runs on two hits and one walk, while striking out six batters.
Maple Leafs right fielder Greg Carrington picked up from where he left off a night ago, going two-for-three with a pair of walks.
Brantford starter Bennett Moore took the loss for the home side, allowing five earned runs on three hits and seven walks in four innings of work.
TORONTO - 11-12-6
BRANTFORD - 2-5-1
BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME: Tied at 1-1 in the top of the third inning, Maple Leafs catcher Justin Marra hit a two-run single with runners on second and third to give the roadside a 3-1 lead.
The Leafs led the rest of the way.
BY THE NUMBERS...
3. With the win, the Leafs extend their winning streak to three games, their longest of the season.
6. Six errors for the Leafs on the night, in an otherwise perfect ball game played by the team offensively and on the mound.
8. A productive night at the plate for Grant Tamane, Carrington, and Connor Lewis in the 7-8-9 spots for the Leafs. The trio went a combined eight-for-thirteen with three walks.
11. The Leafs walked 11 times on Friday, highlighted by first basemen Jordan Castaldo, who walked four times. The two-time league MVP has walked eight times in his last three games.
14. Between Deska and relievers Ryan Wells and Rhys Montgomery, Leafs pitchers struck out a combined 14 Red Sox batters on the night.
LOOKING AHEAD...
The Leafs now return home on Sunday to host these very same Red Sox to wrap up the home-and-home.
Photo: Craig Aikin