Grills Brilliant as Royals Blowout Red Sox in Leader's Debut
GUELPH - The new guys are alright.
The Guelph Royals blew out the Brantford Red Sox 9-1 on Tuesday evening to improve to 7-4 on the season.
With the loss, the Red Sox fall to 4-10.
Guelph starter Evan Grills was brilliant in his second start, pitching eight shutout innings while striking out 13 Brantford batters.
The southpaw allowed just four hits and one walk.
Royals first basemen Garrett Takamatsu led the way at the plate, going two-for-four with a walk.
Brantford starter Gregor Farquharson took the loss, allowing one earned run on four hits and three walks in five innings pitched.
BRANTFORD - 1-5-3
GUELPH - 9-10-1
BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME: Up 2-1 in bottom of the six inning, Royals shortstop Brando Leroux hit a two-run, bases-loaded double to put the game out of reach.
BY THE NUMBERS...
1. The first triple of the season for the Royals came on Tuesday and it came from Andy Leader, who was acquired minutes before the game via a trade with the Kitchener Panthers.
3. A three hit game from Royals left fielder Marc Nellis, who has been the most impressive junior on the Royals roster. Nellis is batting .313 on the season for Guelph.
13. Thirteen strikeouts from Grills on Tuesday, the most by a Royals pitcher in a game this season.
LOOKING AHEAD...
The Royals are right back at it on Wednesday when they travel to Toronto to face the Maple Leafs.
The first pitch is scheduled for 7:30 pm.
The team returns home on Saturday to face the London Majors at 7:30 pm for country night.