By Staff
August 4, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It took 10 innings, nine pitchers and nearly five hours, but the Brantford Red Sox took Game 1 of the IBL quarter-final series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Dennon Koziol’s two-out single scored Chris Dennis to give the Red Sox a dramatic 9-8 win at Arnold Anderson Stadium.
The fourth-place Red Sox prevailed despite blowing a one-run lead in the top of the ninth. Toronto scored three runs and was on the verge of stealing home field, but Brantford scored twice in the bottom of the inning to send the game to extras.
Ricky Murray went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI for the Red Sox. Jeff Hunt doubled and drove in two, Josh McCurdy had two hits, an RBI and run, while Dan Jagdeo, Lee Delfino and Brandon Dailey all drove in a run. Nic Burdett singled twice and scored once.
Trevor Bayless (1-0) picked up the win, allowing three runs on five hits in two innings of relief. Bayless, who was the fourth Brantford reliever, struck out three and didn’t walk a batter.
Red Sox starter Nathan Forer went five innings and gave up five runs on 10 hits, striking out five and walking four.
Grant Tamane led the Leafs 16-hit attack with four singles. Tamane drove in two and scored three times. Sean Mattson had two hits and three RBI, Justin Marra added two hits, an RBI and run, Dan Marra singled and doubled, Connor Lewis had three singles and a run, and Jonathan Solazzo had an RBI.
Solazzo (0-1) also took the loss on the mound, yielding an unearned run on one hit in 1.2 innings. Solazzo struck out two and walked two.
Leafs starter Justin Cicatello went eight innings and gave up six runs on 10 hits, striking out four and walking three.
Game 2 is Thursday in Toronto at 7:30 p.m.
Future games:
Thursday, Aug. 4
Brantford at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Burlington at Barrie, 7:30 p.m.
Hamilton at Kitchener, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 5
Guelph at London, 7:35 p.m.
