Reilly hits IBL milestone in Leafs' blowout of Majors

Photo by RJ Rose

TORONTO -- Sean Reilly continues to rewrite the Intercounty Baseball League record books. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs' designated hitter became the first player in IBL history to reach 1,000 hits after going 3-for-6 in a 21-12 win over London Tuesday night at Christie Pits. Reilly was held hitless in the first three at bats against the Majors before singling in the bottom of the fifth. His one-out single an inning later scored Jordan Castaldo, and Reilly made history in the seventh with his third single -- this time on a 3-1 pitch from Jarryd Lund. Reilly scored a batter later when Garret Takamatsu hit a three-run blast to cap an eight-pitch at bat. 

Reilly's 1,000 hits are 155 more than Toronto teammate Damon Topolie, who is second in IBL history. Reilly also leads the league in all-time home runs with 203. Randy Curran is second with 154. 

The 44-year-old from Guelph is hitting .455 with two home runs, 23 RBI and a steal in 77 at bats in 2021. 

Takamatsu finished the night with three longballs and six RBI. He also scored five times. Marcus Knecht and Johnathan Solazzo each went 3-for-5 with four RBI and three runs. Knecht went deep twice while Solazzo connected for his sixth home run of the campaign. Justin Marra went 2-for-4 with a double and home run -- his 11th of the season, tying Takamatsu for the IBL lead. He drove in four and also scored four times. 

Dan Marra had three hits and an RBI, Chandler McLaren drove in a run, and Castaldo scored three times. 

Justin Cicatello (1-0) struck out two and walked one in a scoreless fifth to earn the win. He relieved Zach Sloan, who was lifted after allowing eight runs on 12 hits over four innings. He walked one and struck out four. 

For London, Julian Johnson homered twice and drove in four. Byron Reichstein went 4-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and three runs, Evan Britt singled, homered and drove in two while scoring twice, Keith Kandel picked up three hits, Carlos Arteaga went 2-for-5 with two runs and an RBI, Adam Filmon singled twice, and Austin Wilkie, Nick Carrell and Robert Doyle all drove in a run. 

Lucas Kelley (1-1) took the loss, giving up eight runs on eight hits with three walks and a strikeout over three innings. 

While London (19-8) has locked up the top seed and a bye heading into the playoffs next week, Toronto (13-13) is tied with Welland for third.