Jackfish blanks Royals in opener

WELLAND – Teodoro Ortega spun seven shutout innings, and Robert Mullen homered in Welland’s 3-0 home win over Guelph in Game 1 of the best-of-five semifinal on Saturday night.  

Ortega (2-0) scattered seven hits and walked two while striking out seven. Deivy Mendez needed 13 pitches to earn his first save of the playoffs.  

At the plate, Mullen opened the scoring with a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the fourth. Joshua Marchese singled home a run, and James Smibert and Brendan Luther each had a pair of hits.  

Liam Wilson went 3-for-4 for the Royals, who were coming off a first-round sweep of London. J.D. Williams singled and stole two bases, and Ashton Patterson doubled.  

Claudio Custodio (1-1) took the loss after allowing two runs on eight hits in six innings. He walked two and fanned four.  

Game 2 is Sunday afternoon in Guelph.