Photo by Gar Fitzgerald
GUELPH – The Guelph Royals and Hamilton Cardinals are winless no more.
After splitting a doubleheader Saturday in Guelph, both teams picked up their first wins of the season.
In Game 1, Guelph's Chris Nakashima singled home Mike Hart with one out in the bottom of the seventh in a 4-3 walk-off victory.
Hart went 1-for-2 with a pair of runs. Marquis Kidd singled twice and had an RBI, while Matt Schmidt and Jeff MacLeod each drove in a run.
Ben Reid (1-0) earned the win, throwing 1.1 scoreless innings of relief while striking out three and walking one. Starter Adrian Yuen went 5.2 innings and gave up three runs on three hits. He walked five and struck out one.
For Hamilton, Connor Bowie homered and drove in two. TJ Baker scored a pair of runs.
Benson Merritt (0-1) took the loss, allowing 1.1 innings while allowing a run on a hit with a walk and no strikeouts. Jackson Jones started and gave up three runs (two earned). He walked three and struck out two.
In Game 2, Bowie doubled, homered and drove in five in a 12-7 Cardinals win. Hamilton's right-fielder had a bases-clearing double in the second inning and added a two-run home run in the fifth.
Lane Renaud had two hits, two runs and an RBI, Greg Marco drove in a pair and scored once, Baker went 2-for-5 with an RBI and run, Chris Beer scored twice and had an RBI, Nate Mastervick had two runs and walked twice, Jon Saporsantos singled once and scored twice, and Jake Chiaravalle went 2-for-4 with a run.
Jake Foden (1-0) earned the win in relief, tossing four shutout innings while scattering two hits. He walked three without striking out a batter. Kyle Adoranti started and went three innings, giving up seven runs on five hits while walking six and striking out three.
Hart had two hits for the Royals, including a home run, with two RBI and two runs. Darren Saunders doubled, homered and drove in three. Jake Forgrave had an RBI, and Nakashima singled once, scored twice and walked three times.
Vavra (0-2) took the loss, giving up eight runs (five earned) on six hits in 3.2 innings. He walked four and struck out two.
Hamilton is 1-4, and Guelph is 1-6.