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HAMILTON BLANKED BY RED SOX

Hamilton hosted the Brantford Red Sox in IBL action on Friday night at Bernie Arbour Stadium. Chris Beer led the Cardinals with two hits in the game and made some outstanding plays in the field but it was Brantford that would take the game 3-0. Rick Murray and Brandon Daily each had three hits in the Red Sox victory. With the loss Hamilton drops to 8-25 on the season with three games left in the regular season.

Andris Rizques and Benjamin Bostick led off the game with back to back walks for Brantford. Later in the opening inning Dan Jagdeo singled to right which allowed Rizques to score the first run of the game. The Red Sox looked to add a second run in the frame but the Cardinals turned a double play to end the inning.

Brantford threatened to extend their lead in the third but a heads up play by Jake Foden got the Red Sox runner out at third after he rounded the base and slipped. However, a couple innings later Murray doubled with two outs to allow Nate De Souza to score. Nic Burdett followed that with a single to score Murray for a 3-0 lead.

The Red Sox loaded up the bases in the sixth but Hamilton’s third double play of the game would end any chance for any more runs were put on the board for the visitors.

The Cardinals did have chances to break up the shutout. In the second Hamilton would get two runners on by way of walks but they were unable to move them around. Then in the fourth Mike Hart singled and took second when the fielder was slow in getting the ball in. But two ground outs ended the inning before a run could come across the plate.

For Hamilton, Nick Virdo took the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits, walking seven batters and striking out two. The Cardinals would then use three relief pitchers who would not give up a run. Ben Reid entered the game to start the sixth and would give up two hits and a walk while striking out one. Nick Jambrosic pitched the eighth, allowing a hit and a walk while Benson Merritt allowed a hit in the ninth.

For Brantford, Jonathan Joseph picked up the win, allowing two hits and two walks over five innings while striking out four. Dalton Harvey pitched the sixth and seventh innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one. Tyler Soucie entered to pitch in the eighth. Striking out one of the three batters he faced. Tanner Guindon finished off the game, allowing a walk and striking out one to earn the save.

The Cardinals and Red Sox will finish off their season series on Saturday night when they meet at Arnold Anderson Stadium in Brantford starting at 8:00 PM. The next time Hamilton is at Bernie Arbour is on Sunday afternoon for a doubleheader against the Barrie Baycats to finish off the 2017 IBL regular season. Fans are reminded that game one of the doubleheader on Sunday starts at 1:00 PM.

Winning Pitcher: Jonathan Joseph (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Nick Virdo (0-2)
Save: Tanner Guindon (4)

Brantford Hitters
Brandon Daily – 3 for 4 (3 Singles, Walk)
Rick Murray – 3 for 5 (2 Singles, Doubles, Run, RBI)
Cody Mombourquette – 2 for 3 (2 Singles, Hit by Pitch)

Hamilton Hitters
Chris Beer – 2 for 4 (2 Singles, Stolen Base)
Mike Hart – 1 for 4 (Single, 2 Strikeouts)
Logan Stewart – 0 for 1 (2 Walks)

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