Royals Bats Stay Cold; Pitching Stays Hot in Loss to Jackfish
WELLAND - Positives and negatives.
The Welland Jackfish shut out the Guelph Royals 3-0 on Thursday evening to improve to a league-best 20-4 record.
With the loss, the Royals fall to 12-9.
Welland starter Brandon Underhill was brilliant in his best start of his career, tossing seven and two-thirds innings of shut-out baseball while allowing just two hits and one walk.
Jackfish third baseman Ethan Hunt led the way at the plate, going two-for-three.
Guelph starter Rhys Montgomery took the loss, despite also pitching the best game of his career. The lefty allowed two earned runs on six hits and a walk in five innings pitched.
GUELPH - 0-3-1
WELLAND - 3-8-0
BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME: In the bottom of the seventh inning, Jackfish shortstop Tyler Dupuis hit an RBI single to extend the Jackfish lead to three.
With the way the Jackfish have pitched as of late -- and with the way the Royals have hit -- the game felt all but over.
BY THE NUMBERS...
0. Zero runs for the Royals on the week, who have lost both their games to the Jackfish by the score of 3-0.
1. Just one error in the game, in a clean baseball game between the two best pitching staffs in the IBL.
5. Five strikeouts in three innings of relief from reliever Wes Johnston, who has put together three solid relief appearances in a row for Guelph.
LOOKING AHEAD...
The Royals are back at it on Friday when they travel to London to face the Majors.
The first pitch is set for 7:30 pm.