Majors fall in extras to Leafs

Written by Dan Haugh/photo by Morgan Roobroeck 

London Majors came into Sunday afternoon´s game in Toronto on a three-game winning

streak, and at the same time the Toronto Maple Leafs entered the afternoon action on a five-game losing streak.

It took extra innings. but both streaks came to an end as the Maple Leafs eked out a 7-6

victory over London with two runs in the bottom of the 11th inning.

London never trailed in the game until Toronto´s Lucas Alberti scored the winning run on a walk-off wild pitch in the bottom the 11th inning.

London´s offence was driven by the long ball in a big way. They took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Starling Joseph´s towering two-run home run to left field scoring Kaiden

Cardoso who had reached base on a soft single to centre field. Kaiden Cardoso´s fifth home run of the season to the opposite-field in the third inning, another opposite field home run by Victor Plaz in the fourth inning, and Eduardo De Oleo´ś line-drive home run to left centre field in the fifth inning made the score 5-2 for London after five innings. That home run by De Oleo was also his fifth of the season.

Kaiden Cardoso was once again the hitting star for London Majors. Cardoso went 4-for-5 with one RBI. Starling Joseph, Victor Plaz and Eduardo De Oleo each had a single and a home run. Tommy Reyes-Cruz had a double and Gibson Krzeminski added a single to round out London´s 12 hit offence.

London starting pitcher Jose Arias was solid over his seven innings on the mound striking out eight Maple Leafs batters. Jonathan Henry came on in the eighth inning in relief of Arias and took the loss.

With a 12-6 record the London Majors remain in second place in the IBL standings, a half game ahead of the third place Barrie Baycats who will be visiting Labatt Park on Canada Dayfor a 6:05 P .M. start. Canada Day Fireworks to follow.