Maple Leafs Lose 4-3 to Red Sox

By Rob Vona

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Brantford Red Sox in a low-scoring 4-3 affair on Monday night at Arnold Anderson Stadium. 

Red Sox pitcher Danny Howett collected his first win of the 2023 season, posting a strong seven innings pitched that saw him give up only two earned runs on seven hits while striking out eight batters. 

Marek Deska got the nod for the Maple Leafs, the 37-year-old went five brilliant, scoreless innings that saw him give up just four hits, no walks and record five strikeouts. 

Ater a slow start to the game for both sides, the Maple Leafs got on the board first with an RBI single from Ryan Burnsdie that scored Garrett Takamatsu, giving the Maple Leafs the 1-0 lead after four innings of play. 

The Red Sox got the best of Maple Leafs reliever James Wilson, who entered the game in the sixth inning. 

The Red Sox tagged Wilson for four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, highlighted by an RBI single from Tyler Wilson and an RBI fielder's choice from Matthew Fabian. 

Fabian recorded two hits in his three at-bats of the game, bringing his average to an Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) best, .450. 

The Maple Leafs, who now trailed by three runs, did not respond until the eighth inning. 

Outfielder Ryan Dos Santos extended his hit-streak to five games with a double that scored Aidan McAskie and Yoichi Ishihara to make it a one-run game.

In spite of giving up two earned runs in the eighth inning, the Red Sox sent pitcher Jeremias Sucre back out for the ninth inning. 

Justin Marra led off the inning with a double to put the tying run in scoring position. Jordan Castaldo followed it up with what he does best, get on base via the walk.

Castaldo now co-leads the IBL with teammate Johnathan Solazzo in walks at 22. 

Sucre settled in and retired the next three batters he faced, two of which came courtesy of a strikeout, as the Maple Leafs comeback attempt fell short. 

The Maple Leafs - who now sit in fifth place in the IBL - are back at it on Wednesday night as they take on the Barrie Baycats at 7:30 p.m. at Dominico Field.