Woodbine Racetrack Game Report: Solazzo and Marra Continue Tear as Leafs Blowout Royals
TORONTO - Bash Brothers.
The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Guelph Royals 16-9 on Sunday afternoon to improve to 18-12 on the season.
With the loss, the Royals fall to 20-10 and have their five-game winning streak snapped.
Toronto starter Angel Castro delivered his best outing yet in the IBL, tossing seven innings of three-run ball while allowing only six hits and one walk.
Maple Leafs third basemen Johnathan Solazzo continued his outstanding month of July, going three-for-five with two home runs and a walk, with his second home run coming in grand fashion in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Toronto catcher Justin Marra had himself a day as well, going two-for-five with two home runs and a walk.
Guelph starter Ben Braun struggled in his Royals debut.
The former Hamilton Cardinal, who was traded to the Royals on Monday, allowed four earned runs on five hits and two walks in two innings pitched.
GUELPH - 9-13-4
TORONTO - 16-16-0
BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME: Up 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning with two-out, Solazzo's grand slam home run all but secured the Leafs the win.
BY THE NUMBERS...
5. Home-field advantage continues to be the difference in the season series between the Leafs and Royals, with the home team winning all five matchups this season.
5. Solazzo, who came into the day with an on-base percentage over .500 and an on-base-plus-slugging percentage over 1.300 in the month of July, is now up to five home runs on the month after hitting a pair of home runs on Sunday.
9. All nine batters in the Leafs lineup reached base on Sunday, with all nine recording at least one hit.
10. Marra now has ten home runs on the season, which moves him past Majors catcher Robert Mullen for third place in the league.
The former Chicago Cubs prospect is now one home run back of Majors designated hitter Cleveland Brownlee and Welland Jackfish outfielder Justin Gideon for the home run lead in the IBL.
78. It took Castro just 78 pitches to breeze through seven innings of work on Sunday. If the game was close, there is no doubt he would have been able to go the distance for the Leafs.
LOOKING AHEAD...
The Leafs return to action on Wednesday when they host the Barrie Baycats for the third and final time this season.
Photo: Craig Aikin
Note: Pointstreak has three errors against the Leafs, with the third one coming in the bottom of the ninth inning after Dan Marra was unable to complete a double play. That is not an error, as a double play cannot be assumed.