Big seventh propels Cards

HAMILTON – A four-run seventh inning propelled Hamilton to a 10-9 win over Chatham-Kent on Friday night at Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium.  

Hamilton, the playoffs’ fifth seed, leads the best-of-five series 2-0 and can advance with a win Saturday in Chatham.  

Jaden Brown hit a three-run home run for the Cards. Brandon Nicoll went 2-for-5 with two RBI, Tanner Rempel and Jommer Hernandez both in a run, and Yolki Pena hit a two-run single in the decisive seventh frame in which the Cards trailed by two at the time. 

Casey Boulliere-Casey struck out three of the five batters he faced for the win. Fernando Rodney worked around a single, walk and run to earn the save. The former MLB all-star struck out two.  

For Chatham-Kent, Yushin Ohta and Andrew Groening each drove in two. Spencer Marcus, Spencer Morin, Sadler Goodwin and Torrin Vaselenak all had an RBI. Victor Plaz and Mitsuki Fukada each scored twice.  

On the mound, Gregor Farquharson (0-1) allowed three runs on four hits in four innings for the loss. He walked one and struck out three in relief of Yuri Yokoyama, who was pulled with one out in the third after giving up six runs (three earned) on four hits with three walks and a strikeout.