September 18, 2022

By Ryan Eakin

Toronto Maple Leafs

TORONTO, Ont. - It's a best-of-three.

The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the London Majors 2-1 in a thrilling Sunday night affair at Christie Pits to even their best-of-seven IBL Finals series at two games apiece.

Toronto starter Angel Castro pitched seven innings of one-run ball, allowing 10 hits and three walks while striking out eight London batters.

Maple Leafs first basemen Jordan Castaldo and catcher Justin Marra were the heroes at the plate for the home side, hitting back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to give the Leafs a 2-1 lead.

Franklin Hernandez picked up the six-out save for Toronto.

London starter Owen Boon was brilliant in defeat, allowing only two earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out eight Toronto batters.

BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME: Tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Marra's no-doubt home run was all the Leafs needed the rest of the way from their offence.

DID YOU SEE THAT? On a 3-2 count to Majors all-star catcher Robert Mullen, and the tying and go-ahead runs on base, Hernandez blew a fastball by Mullen to end the ball game.

It is impossible for tensions to be higher than they were in that moment.

BY THE NUMBERS...

4. Only a four-hit game from the Leafs, who got the best performance of the season from Castro when they needed it most.

12. The Majors left 12 runners on base Sunday, compared to just five for the Leafs.

17. With three strikeouts in relief, Hernandez has now struck out 17 batters in 9 2/3 innings this postseason.

UP NEXT...

Game five goes Tuesday evening in London before returning to Toronto for game six on Thursday.