Woodbine Racetrack Game Report: Leafs Offence Continues Tear in Blowout Win Over Baycats

TORONTO - Staying hot.

The Toronto Maple Leafs blew out the Barrie Baycats 12-3 on Wednesday evening to improve to 19-12 on the season.

With the loss, the Baycats fall to 18-14.

Toronto starter Zach Sloan picked up the win, going five innings while allowing only one earned run on five hits and a walk.

The southpaw struck out six Barrie batters.

Maple Leafs left fielder Luca Boscarino at a career night at the plate, going two-for-three with a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning for his first career IBL home run.

Barrie starter Adam Khan joined the list of opposing pitchers to struggle at the Angry Confines in July.

The Baycats rookie pitcher allowed seven earned runs on 12 hits and one walk in three and two-thirds pitched.

BARRIE - 3-7-2

TORONTO - 12-18-1

BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME: Up 7-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Boscarino's home run blew the game wide open for the surging Maple Leafs, who are only 1.5 games back of the Guelph Royals for third place in the IBL.

DID YOU SEE THAT? In the bottom of the second inning, with the Leafs down 2-1, Maple Leafs manager Damon Topolie laid down a perfect bunt with runners on first and second and no one out.

Not only did Topolie advance the two runners on base, but he beat out the throw from Baycats third basemen Owen Jansen to load the bases.

You never know what you will see at the ballpark on any given day.

BY THE NUMBERS...

1.5. With the win, the Leafs also move 1.5 games up on the Baycats for fourth place in the IBL standings.

3. Between centre fielder Connor Lewis, second basemen Dan Marra, and Topolie, three Toronto hitters had three hits on Wednesday. 

9. For yet another game, all nine batters in the Leafs lineup reached base via a hit.

27. 27 combined strikeouts between the Leafs and Baycats on Wednesday, with Barrie reliever Brad Grieveson leading the way with eight punchouts in only three and one-thirds pitched.

INSIDE THE LOCKERROOM... 

Topolie on Sloan's outing: "I'm glad that he pitched great. He deserved it as he has been pitching better than his stat line has been showing. He deserved it and it should give him confidence heading into his next start."

Topolie on Boscarino's big night: "I have coached him for a long time, so I knew the type of player I was getting. He has been a great team guy and I knew that he'd be a great fit in our clubhouse. To have the summer he has had before he goes back to school, that is exactly what I brought him in for -- to learn from the veteran guys."

Topolie on his bunt: "It was just the situation -- a tight ball game. We are trying to get into playoff mode, so I was trying to execute and move the runners over. More than anything, I just wanted to show the guys that it's team baseball time, because like I said, we are getting ready for the playoffs."

Topolie on the last time he reached base via a bunt: "It's been a while," he chuckled. "I haven't really been in that situation. But like I said, I just wanted to be a team guy and lead by example."

LOOKING AHEAD...

The Leafs return to action on Saturday when they travel to Welland to face the Jackfish.

They wrap up their season series against the Jackfish on Sunday when they host Welland to close out the home-and-home.

Photo: Craig Aikin 

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