Reilly Hits Walk-Off Bomb as Maple Leafs Win 13 Inning Thriller to Force a Game Five
TORONTO - We will see you... later tonight?
The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the London Majors 6-5 in 13 innings to force a winner-takes-all game five tonight in London.
Toronto reliever Dustin Richardson picked up the win, delivering one of the greatest relief appearances in IBL history in the process.
The former big leaguer pitched seven shutout innings in relief of starting pitcher Justin Cicatello -- who pitched six innings -- allowing four hits, zero walks, and picking up 12 strikeouts.
Maple Leafs designated hitter and the greatest hitter in IBL history Sean Reilly hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 13th inning to secure the win for the Maple Leafs after a nearly four hour contest.
London reliever Luke Kelley took the heartbreaking loss, despite pitching outstanding in relief for starter Pedro De Los Santos.
The southpaw allowed no runs on just four hits and one walk in 4.2 innings pitched
LONDON - 5-11-4
TORONTO - 6-13-2
BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME: Reilly's walk-off home run over the left field fence was a no-doubter the second it left his bat.
BY THE NUMBERS...
1: Toronto is now one win away from their first championship since 2007. London continues to be one win away from their first title since 1975.
18. Cicatello and Richardson combined for 18 strikeouts for the Maple Leafs' tonight.
London had five between De Los Santos and Kelley.
92: 92 pitches for Richardson out of the Maple Leafs' bullpen tonight, likely taking him out of the bullpen for tonight's game five. London is in the same boat with Kelley, who threw 66 pitches in relief tonight.
There is no doubt that the championship will come down to whichever game five starter (Owen Boon for London and Marek Deska for Toronto) pitches better.
3:58: Tonight's game was three hours and fifty eight minutes, making it the longest game of the 2021 IBL postseason -- by far.
NEXT UP...
- It all comes down to game five, later today in London.
The game can be watched by clicking here.
For more information, follow the Maple Leafs on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @iblmapleleafs.
Photo: @LaRussaGastro