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SECOND INNING ERRORS COST CARDINALS

Hamilton looked to rebound on Friday when they hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs at Bernie Arbour in IBL action. However, three errors would allow the Leafs to score a total of six second inning runs on their way to a 9-5 victory. Jake Foden and Dave Vanderby each would hit in a pair of runs for the Cardinals while John Waltenbury hit a grand slam and Jonathan Solazzo had a solo home run for the Leafs.

With the Hamilton loss and Guelph’s loss to London on Friday, the Cardinals remain a game back of the Royals for seventh place.

For the second straight night Hamilton would get on the board first thanks to the long ball. Liam Wilson reached base on an error to open the bottom half of the first and then scored on Foden’s first career home run which gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.

Toronto responded right away as former Cardinal Solazzo hit a solo home run with one out in the top of the second. Hamilton starter Rhys Tapper would then give up a walk to Ryan White before Grant Tamane hit a grounder to second which was muffed and put runners at first and second. The error would be the first of three in the inning for Hamilton.

Connor Lewis then singled to tie the game at two before the bases were loaded on a Dan Marra walk. Waltenbury would then give the baseball buds the lead that they wouldn’t give up on a grand slam.

The score remained that way until the sixth. TJ Baker and Nate Mastervick would draw walks and moved up 90-feet on a ground out by Geoff Seto. Vanderby would then take the fifth pitch of the bat to center field for a bases clearing triple and get Hamilton within a pair of runs.

The Leafs would pretty much put the game away in the eighth as Solazzo singled in a run and White doubled to score two runs and make it 9-4. Hamilton’s fifth run of the game would come in the ninth on a bases loaded sacrifice fly by Tyler Hardie, who earlier in the game had a single to stretch his hitting streak to a league best 23-games.

For the Cardinals, Rhys Tapper took the loss going two innings, allowing six runs, only one was earned, on four hits and three walks. Jonathan Palumbo stopped the bleeding going three innings on the mound, allowing one hit, six walks and striking out one. Russ Burroughs came in to pitch to start the sixth and lasted two and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on three hits, walking two and striking out one. Lake Molleson and Chris Lazar would combine to go the final inning a third, allowing a hit each and Molleson giving up a walk.

Justin Cicatello picked up the win going eight innings on the mound for Toronto. Cicatello would allowing four runs, one of which was unearned, on five hits, walking five and striking out eight. Adam Marra pitched the ninth, giving up a run on three hits and walking one batter.

Hamilton will be scoreboard watching on Saturday but the next day they will host the London Majors on Hamilton Bulldogs Day. Members of the OHL club will be on hand to sign autographs and throw out the ceremonial first pitch. The action gets underway at 2:00pm on Sunday.

Winning Pitcher: Justin Cicatello (4-4)
Losing Pitcher: Rhys Tapper (0-6)

Toronto Hitters
Jonathan Solazzo – 2 for 5 (Single, Solo Home Run, 2 Runs, 2 RBIs)
Connor Lewis – 2 for 5 (2 Singles, Run, RBI)
Jon Waltenbury – 2 for 6 (Single, Grand Slam, Strikeout, Run, 4 RBIs)

Hamilton Hitters
Dre Celestijn – 2 for 5 (Single, Double, Fielder’s Choice, 2 Strikeouts)
Jake Foden – 1 for 3 (2-Run Home Run, 2 Walks, Run, 2 RBIs)
Dave Vanderby – 1 for 3 (Triple, Strikeout, 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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