Around the Diamond: Long ball success; New faces contributing

The second-place Majors (7-3) enter a three-game weekend with the top pitching numbers in the league — and some well-earned powers numbers. That and more in this week’s news & notes.

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

* * *

1) Oh, so close. Including last Friday’s 11-10 loss to Kitchener in the first game of the night (the completion of the suspended home opener), the Majors are 0-3 in one-run games so far this season (their only three losses thus far). London nearly mounted a full comeback Friday, scoring a pair of runs in both the eighth and ninth innings after trailing 11-6, but fell just short.

It’s the other two one-run losses that have stung. They both came against first-place Welland (10-2), and both were comeback wins by the Jackfish. In fact, both featured a big inning (five-plus runs) which propelled Welland to wins in their home ballpark. Reverse those one-run games and the two teams would be reversed in the standings, with the Majors (7-3) actually holding down first place heading into this weekend.

Though last Saturday’s 6-5 loss to the Jackfish didn’t sting quite as much as the 8-7 loss on May 21, in which Welland scored six times in the bottom of the ninth to turn a 7-2 deficit into a win, it was still a tough one to swallow. After scoring two in the top of the sixth (RBI hits from Cleveland Brownlee and catcher Robert Mullen) to go ahead 4-1, London watched Welland put up a big five-run inning to take a 6-4 lead. The Majors were only able to get one back before falling 6-5.

Though 0-3 in one-run contests, the Majors have had a two-run win (4-2, June 3) and a three-run win (6-3, May 15), both against the Toronto Maple Leafs. But in their other five victories, they’ve won by an average of 8.8(!) runs. Which brings us to last Friday’s game two 16-0 win …

2) Playing the long game. During London’s regularly scheduled game against Kitchener last Friday, during which the Majors exploded for 16 runs (on 13 hits), Brownlee went deep twice for home runs No. 5 & 6 on the season (he leads the league heading into action this weekend). On Saturday in Welland, it was third basemen Taylor Wright who belted a pair of homers.

In fact, the Majors are second in the IBL with 16 home runs through 10 games. And they’ve earned them. Not all home runs are created equal in this league, as certain parks (ahem, Christie Pits in Toronto and Jack Couch Stadium in Kitchener) regularly feature more long balls than others – including Labatt Park, which plays more as a pitcher’s park than a hitter’s.

In other words, London’s home run pace thus far has been impressive. They’re just two behind Toronto (ahem, Christie Pits) – and in four fewer games. After Brownlee’s six and Wright’s four, Mullen has three, outfielder Starling Joseph has a pair, and shortstop Keith Kandel has a home run under his belt.

Wright hit three in two (and a half) games last weekend, continuing his coming-out party, as the infielder went an impressive 7-for-10 and raised his average all the way to .368 (14-for-38) in his 10 games so far this season. His 14 runs scored and seven walks are tops on the team, and his .467 on-base percentage is third-best behind Mullen and Brownlee.

Taylor Wright celebrates one of his three home runs last weekend. The first-year Major, who hails from Vancouver, BC, has his batting average up to .368. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

* * *

3) New Kids on the Block. A pair of players who have joined the Majors more recently are already making their mark. Jakob Newton, who recently completed a five-year career at Florida Tech University (D-II), arrived in early June, and he’s played in four games already, going 5-for-16 (.313) with six runs scored and a pair of stolen bases.

Newton had a three-hit game in London’s 16-0 trouncing of Kitchener last weekend, reaching base four times in the contest. An outfielder, Newton, 24, played 50 games in his senior season at Florida Tech, batting .304 with a .388 on-base percentage and 43 runs scored. An Oakville, ON native, he’s a graduate of the Ontario Blue Jays program.

Gibson Krzeminski, meanwhile, has seen action in three games now for the Majors since arriving after finishing out his collegiate season at Canisius (D-I). Prior to playing for the Griffs, the switch-hitting utilityman played two seasons at Iowa Western, where he batted a combined .368. In 2019, he helped the team reach the JUCO DI World Series championship game.

Krzeminski debuted last Friday, picking up a hit in his first at-bat in the Majors pinstripes. He also scored a run in London’s 11-10 loss to Kitchener. In game two against the Panthers, he started at third base (Wright shifted to first) and notched a double and two walks (and two RBIs) in five plate appearances, scoring three times in London’s 16-0 blowout win.

4) No runs for you! Scoring has been difficult for the opposition against the Majors so far this season. From a run prevention standpoint, London is tops in the league entering action this weekend – and it’s not very close. They’ve allowed 40 runs in 10 games, with their 4 runs/game easily besting the next closest team (Toronto, 5.07 runs against per game). First-place Welland has allowed 5.17 runs per game. The league average is 6.5.

Most of the credit early is due to starting pitchers Jose Arias and Owen Boon. Both have put up excellent numbers in their combined eight starts so far (the Majors’ other two games were started by Pedro De Los Santos, one of last year’s aces).

Arias has been simply dominant. In four starts (and one relief appearance), the right-hander has posted a miniscule 0.58 ERA, a mark that leads the league by more than a full run. He’s also the owner of a 0.81 WHIP and a .155 batting average against in his 31 innings in a Majors uniform. The Santiago, Dominican Republic native enters the weekend on a run of three straight scoreless outings – most recently, a six-inning, 10-strikeout effort in London’s 16-0 win last Friday.

Boon, meanwhile, is a perfect 4-0 thus far. He’s posted a 2.45 ERA (fifth in the league) and struck out 34 batters (fourth) in his 25 2/3 innings of work. Combined, that 1-2 punch of Arias and Boon have thrown 56 2/3 of the team’s total 86 2/3 innings (65.4%) on the mound. If De Los Santos rights the ship (5.72 ERA in 11 IP thus far), and import arm Cesar Cabral, who’s on the way, finds success this summer, London’s opposition hitters could be in for quite the challenge.