Hamilton gave up an early home run but after that hit they never looked back as they scored a season high 17 runs on 14 hits to defeat the Burlington Bandits 17-1. With the win the Cardinals capture the Skyway Series by winning the season series between the teams four to two. Tyler Hardie had four hits in the game while Robert Wilson allowed a handful of hits in the game.
Just four pitches into the game the Bandits would get on the score board as Justin Gideon hit a solo home run for a 1-0 lead. However, that was just one of five hits that Hamilton starting pitcher Robert Wilson would give up and the only run Burlington would score as the Cardinals took over the rest of the way.
Hamilton tied the game in the bottom half of the first when Nate Mastervick, who had a one out single, scored on a Hardie single. The Cardinals extended their lead in the bottom of the third when Mastervick hit his first home run of the season, a solo shot, and the first by a Hamilton player at Bernie Arbour this season. Hardie would also score in the inning when TJ Baker hit an RBI single.
The runs and the hits kept on coming as the Cardinals put up four runs in the fourth while sending nine batters to the plate. Marcus Dicenzo lead off the inning with a single then was joined by Jake Foden who drew a walk. Liam Wilson then hit a ground rule double to dead center field which allowed Dicenzo to score. Hardie would later collect his third single of the night to score two more runs and make it a 6-1 game. Chris Beer later singled with two outs to bring in a run and make it a six run lead for Hamilton.
Hamilton went on to add a pair of runs in the sixth and seven in the seventh, with four of the runs coming in on walks or hit batters, to make the eventual final score 17-1.
For the Cardinals, Robert Wilson went eight innings and one batter for the win, allowing one run on five hits, walking two and striking out six. Mitch Gardiner would get the final three outs, picking up a strikeout to end the game.
For Burlington, Derek Zwolinski took the loss going four innings, allowing eight runs, one of which was unearned, on ten hits, walking three and striking out three. Luke Melymick went the next two innings allowing a pair of runs, only one was earned, on two hits and two walks. Liam Munshi then took the mound for two-thirds of an inning, allowing seven runs, only four were earned, on two hits, four walks, three hit batters and getting one strikeout. Chris Dupuis pitched the final inning and a third, allowing a walk to one of the five batters he faced.
Hamilton will look to make it two in a row as they travel to Guelph on Saturday to face the Royals starting at 7:30pm. The next home game for the Cardinals is on Sunday afternoon when the Barrie Baycats visit Bernie Arbour for a 2:00pm start.
Winning Pitcher: Robert Wilson (2-4)
Losing Pitcher: Derek Zwolinski (0-1)
Burlington Hitters
Justin Gideon – 1 for 3 (Solo Home Run, Walk, Strikeout, Run, RBI)
Alex Nolan – 1 for 3 (Double, Strikeout)
Julian Johnson – 1 for 3 (Single, Reached on Error, Walk)
Hamilton Hitters
Tyler Hardie – 4 for 5 (4 Singles, Walk, 3 Runs, 4 RBIs)
Chris Beer – 3 for 4 (3 Singles, Hit By Pitch, Walk, Run, 3 RBIs)
Nate Mastervick – 2 for 4 (Single, Solo Home Run, Hit by Pitch, Walk, 3 Runs, 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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