Four-run eighth spurs Royals
GUELPH – A four-run eighth was enough for the Guelph Royals to squeeze out an 8-6 win over the Hamilton Cardinals Thursday night at David E. Hastings Stadium.
Guelph led 4-2 until Hamilton scored four of its own in the seventh, but the Royals roared back soon after to pick up their seventh victory in 10 games.
Angel Villalona went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in the win. Josh Garton singled, doubled and drove in two while scoring twice, Kyle Kush had two hits and scored, Darius Barlas and Sean Reilly both singled and scored twice, and Brendan Keys and Riley Perks had an RBI apiece.
Edwin Javier (3-0) picked up the win, allowing an unearned run on one hit in 2.2 innings. He struck out
six and walked three. Yomar Concepcion started and went 6.1 innings, surrendering five runs on nine hits with eight strikeouts.
For Hamilton, Luke Tevlin singled three times. Justin Gideon went 2-for-4 with a run, Grant Arnold had two hits and an RBI, Jacob Martins drove in two, and Connor Bowie had the other RBI.
Stefan Strecker (1-1) took the loss, giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits. He struck out one.
Clay Miller started and struck out four in three innings. He allowed six runs on seven hits with three walks.
Guelph improved to 14-12, and Hamilton dropped to 11-13.