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CARDINALS SQUANDER CHANCES AGAINST MAJORS

The Hamilton Cardinals were looking for their third straight victory on home turn on Friday night in IBL action at Bernie Arbour Stadium but it was the London Majors that left the field with a 14-9 win. Chris Beer, Tyler Hardie and Dre Celestijn would combine for nine of the Cardinals’ 14 hits in the game while Carlos Arteaga went four for four at the plate for London. The Cardinals’ record now sits at 5-12 which places them in sixth place in the IBL.

The Majors jumped out to an early lead in the second inning when LeJon Baker hit a solo home run.

Hamilton would take the lead in the bottom of the third, scoring four unearned runs. Geoff Seto and Jake Osborne would get on base by way of errors and saw Lake Molleson, who had walked prior to the errors, come in to score when Osborne reached base. Marcus Dicenzo would then draw a walk to load up the bases which was followed up by a single from All-Star Hardie that drove in a pair of runs. The Cardinals would get one more run in the frame when Dicenzo scored on Beer’s fielder’s choice to give the Cardinals a 4-1 lead.

London got one run back in the fourth when Michael Ambrose, who doubled earlier in the inning, scored on Baker’s double. The Majors kept the ball rolling in the fifth getting four straight singles from RJ Fuhr, Arteaga, Keith Kandel and Byron Reichstein. Reichstein would pick up an RBI on his hit which also saw two more runners to come in by way of an error. Cleveland Brownlee would finish off the scoring in the top half of the inning with an RBI single of his own to take a 6-5 lead.

The Cardinals then started to chip away at the Majors’ lead scoring one in the fifth on a Celestijn RBI single and one in the sixth when Hardie singled in Dicenzo who had singled and moved around the bases on an error and a passed ball.

London would put the game away in the seventh and eighth innings, scoring four times in each while Hamilton picked up a single run in the seventh and a pair in the ninth. The Cardinals did have their chances to make the game closer but they would strand a total of 13 runners on base with three innings ending with the bases loaded.

For the Cardinals, Chris Lazar got the start on his 19th birthday but did not pick up a decision going four and two-thirds innings on the mound, allowing six runs, only three were earned, on nine hits and striking out three. Benson Merritt took the loss in relief of Lazar, going one and a third innings, allowing four runs on three hits and a walk. Russ Burroughs then came in for an inning of work allowing just one hit. Tim Black finished off the game allowing four runs on three hits, walking one and striking out three.

For London, Owen Boon went four innings in his start while allowing five runs, only one was earned, on six hits, walking two batters and striking out six. Ben Runyon would pick up the win going two and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on four hits, walking one and striking out two. Braeden Ferrington then came in to pitch an inning and a third, allowing a pair of hits, walking one batter. Byron Reichstein took to the mound in the ninth, allowing two runs on two hits and walking two.

The Cardinals return to action on Saturday night when they make their way north to face the Barrie Baycats starting at 7:00 PM. The next afternoon Hamilton will host the Burlington Bandits at Bernie Arbour starting at 2:00 PM on Challenger Baseball Day.

Prior to the game on Sunday the Cardinals will host members of the Hamilton Challenger Baseball Association in a pick-up game followed by a meet and greet.

Winning Pitcher: Ben Runyon (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Benson Merritt (1-2)

London Hitters
Carlos Arteaga – 4 for 4 (4 Singles, Stolen Base, 3 Runs, RBI)
Byron Reichstein – 3 for 5 (2 Singles, 2 Run Home Run, 3 Runs, 3 RBIs)
Cleveland Brownlee – 2 for 5 (2 Singles, 2 Strikeouts, 3 RBIs)

Hamilton Hitters
Tyler Hardie – 3 for 6 (3 Singles, Fielder’s Choice, Run, 3 RBIs)
Chris Beer – 3 for 6 (2 Singles, Double, Fielder’s Choice, Run, 2 RBIs)
Dre Celestijn – 3 for 6 (3 Singles, 2 RBIs)

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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