Osika walks off Royals

Photo by Art Ward

HAMILTON – Tristan Osika’s three-run blast in the bottom of the ninth gave the Hamilton Cardinals a walk-off 5-3 win over Guelph Sunday afternoon at Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium.

Hamilton trailed 3-1 entering the ninth and pulled to within a run on Jacob Underwood’s two-out RBI single. Osika homered two pitches later as the Cards improved to 7-26.

Ryan Burnside went 2-for-2 with a run and Jacob Underwood drove in a run and scored.

Jose Fernandez (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win, striking out four. Sam Turcotte started and allowed two runs on three hits over five innings. He fanned five.

Kyle DeGrace drove in two for the Royals (22-11). Dalton Pompey went 2-for-2 and scored twice.

Andrew Case (1-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing four unearned runs thanks to an error. He scattered three hits in two-thirds of an inning.

Nelson Mercado started and went five scoreless innings, giving up two hits and three walks while striking out six.