Royals win seventh straight

GUELPH – Ethan Hammond’s bases loaded single with one out in the bottom of the ninth sent the Guelph Royals to their seventh straight win Saturday night.

Hammond drove in Dalton Pompey on a 0-1 pitch to cap the Royals’ 13-12 win over Toronto. Pompey started the inning with a single, his third hit of the game. Conner Morro went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, Sean Reilly drove in a run and scored, J.D. Williams had two hits, three RBI, three runs and two of Guelph’s five stolen bases, Noah Roberts added an RBI and Darius Barlas drove in two.

Brandon Deans (1-1) allowed an unearned run in the ninth to pick up the win. He walked three and struck out three. Royals’ starter Nelson Mercado lasted three innings and yielded four runs on two hits. He struck out two but walked seven.

Guelph improved to 13-7.

Leafs’ starter Angel Castro was touched for six runs on six hits over five innings. He walked six and fanned five. Sam Greene suffered the loss, giving up two runs on three hits over 1.1 innings. He walked one and fanned four.

Jose Vinicio and Justin Marra each two hits, two RBI and two runs for the Maple Leafs (11-9). Aidan McAskie drove in two, Connor Lewis, Greg Carrington and Grant Tamane had an RBI apiece.