Royals stymie Sox

GUELPH – Guelph pitchers struck out 14 Brantford batters and held the Red Sox in check in a 5-1 home win on Saturday.  

Royals’ starter Brandon Deans whiffed 11 over seven innings. He allowed a run on two hits and three walks. Nelson Mercado (2-1) struck out two in his only inning of relief to earn the win, and Gaku Ueda struck out one in the ninth.  

At the plate, Ethan Hammond went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Royals (12-18). Matthew Ward and Edgar Garcia both drove in a run, and Brando Leroux and Garrett Takamatsu each had two hits and a run.  

Jeremie Veilleux had the lone RBI for Brantford (6-23), and Lucas Lefebvre doubled. 

Jorge De la Cruz (0-2) allowed two runs on two hits in an inning to take the loss. He struck out two. He entered the game after Connor Irvine struck out five over seven innings. He allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks.