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CARDINALS AND MAJORS PLAY ERROR FILLED GAME

Hamilton and London met on Sunday afternoon at Bernie Arbour and played one of the weirdest games during the 2016 IBL season. The teams would combine to allow 23 walks and commit ten errors but it would be the Majors who left the park with a 6-5 win. Marcus Dicenzo had the only hit for the Cardinals while RJ Fuhr, Michael Ambrose and Byron Reichstein each had two hits for the Majors.

Liam Wilson led off the bottom half of the first by reaching base on an error. He would then move all the way to third on back to back walks to Nate Mastervick and Dre Celestijn to load the bases. Tyler Hardie then hit a sacrifice fly to deep center that allowed Liam Wilson to score. TJ Baker then drew a walk and as Celestijn went to second the London catcher threw to try and get the runner which allowed Mastervick to score. Brendan O’Flynn would then reach on a fielder’s choice which allowed a third run to score.

The Majors would get on the board in the third. Keith Kandel would draw a one out walk and move around the bases with back to back singles by Michael Ambrose and Byron Reichstein. LeJon Baker battled to a full count and drew an RBI walk. A sacrifice fly by Humberto Ruiz would bring in another run and cut the Cardinals lead to a run.

Hamilton got the two runs back in the bottom of the third when Mastervick and Celestijn, who each walked, scored on a throwing error charged to the Majors’ second baseman.

The score remained that way until the sixth London would tie up the game at five. Ambrose would hit a sacrifice fly for the second out of the inning but it brought in Chris McQueen who had walked to open inning. Reichstein followed that with an RBI single which was followed by a double by Baker that saw Reichstein score on an error.

The Cardinals got their first and only hit in sixth inning when Marcus Dicenzo singled up the middle.

Fuhr would give London the lead for good in the seventh when he singled to bring in Arteaga for the eventual game winning run.

For the Cardinals, Robert Wilson started the game, going three and a third innings, allowing two runs on three hits, walking nine and striking out two. Benson Merritt then came in for two and a third innings, allowing three runs, one of which was unearned, on three hits while walking two and striking out two. Russ Burroughs took the loss allowing one run on three hits and picking up a strikeout over an inning and a third. Chris Lazar pitched the final two innings for Hamilton allowing a hit and striking out two.

For the Majors, Cory Hammond went six and a third innings, allowing five runs, only one was earned, on one hit, while walking nine and striking out five for the win. Ben Runyon would pick up the save going two and a third innings, walking three and striking out two.

Hamilton will finish off the regular season this week with a pair of games. The first game will take place on Thursday night when the team travels to Barrie to face the Baycats. The next night the team returns to Bernie Arbour to take on the Guelph Royals for what could be a battle for seventh place. Both games start at 7:30pm.

Winning Pitcher: Cory Hammond (4-1)
Losing Pitcher: Russ Burroughs (1-4)
Save: Ben Runyon (2)

London Hitters
RJ Fuhr – 2 for 3 (2 Singles, Walk, Sacrifice Bunt, Strikeout, RBI)
Michael Ambrose – 2 for 3 (2 Singles, Walk, Sacrifice Fly, Run, RBI)
Byron Reichstein – 2 for 4 (2 Singles, Hit by Pitch, Strikeout, Run, RBI)

Hamilton Hitters
Marcus Dicenzo – 1 for 3 (Single, Fielder’s Choice, Walk, Strikeout, 2 Stolen Bases)
Dre Celestijn – 0 for 0 (5 Walks, Stolen Base, 2 Runs)
Brendan O’Flynn – 0 for 4 (2 Fielder’s Choices, Reached on Error, RBI)

Tickets for all Hamilton Cardinals home games are available at the Bernie Arbour Stadium Box Office on game day. For more information on Cardinals season passes email iblcardinals@gmail.com or visit the team’s website at www.iblcardinals.com.

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