Woodbine Racetrack Game Report: Castro Outduels Garces as Leafs Win Incredible Game One
TORONTO - IBL Baseball at its best.
In one of the great pitching matchups in recent IBL memory, the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Barrie Baycats 5-3 to take a 1-0 series lead in their best-of-five quarterfinal series.
Toronto starter Angel Castro delivered a pitching performance for the ages, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and two walks in eight innings.
The bulldog struck out nine Barrie batters.
Maple Leafs shortstop Jose Vinicio had quite the game at the plate, going two-for-five with two stolen bases.
Toronto starter Franklin Hernandez recorded the save by striking out the side in the ninth.
Barrie starter Frank Garces took the loss despite an outstanding performance of his own.
The former San Diego Parde allowed five earned runs on 11 hits and two walks while striking out 11 Toronto batters in eight innings.
BARRIE - 3-9-1
TORONTO - 5-11-0
BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME: Up 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Maple Leafs first basemen Jordan Castaldo had yet another big hit against his former team to extend the Leafs lead to 5-3.
DID YOU SEE THAT? Tied 3-3 in the seventh, Vinicio took a one-out base hit and turned it into a triple by stealing a pair of batters.
BY THE NUMBERS...
0. No errors for the Leafs, who played their best defensive game of the season.
9. All nine Toronto batters reached base at least once on Friday, with only second basemen Dan Marra not recording a hit.
INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM...
Maple Leafs manager Garrett Takamatsu on Castro: "We couldn't have had a better performance. That was outstanding. We knew in the ninth that if someone got on he would come out but I'm just super proud of him and super proud of the team."
Maple Leafs catcher Justin Marra on Garces and the battle between him and Castro: "You got two ex-big leaguers going at it. The intensity and emotion from both sides was amazing. Everyone was just giving it their all. It was just a great game to be a part of."
Takamatsu on Hernandez: "His stuff is electric. What he is doing is ridiculous. His curveball is one of the best curveballs I have ever seen. If we have him coming in the ninth, I'm pretty confident."
Takamatsu on the quality of at-bats for the Leafs in the game: "Frank is definitely the best lefty in the league, but the guys scrapped some at-bats together. They know this is the playoffs and put together some really good at-bats. They didn't give any free at-bats away and when we needed a big hit, we got one."
LOOKING AHEAD...
Game two goes Saturday afternoon in Midhurst before the series shifts back to Toronto on Sunday for game three.
Photo: Craig Aikin