Royals Blast Their Way To A Game Four

Photo by Gar Fitzgerald

The Guelph Royals are on the board,   FINALLY.

After six straight losses to the Hamilton Cardinals in the postseason dating back to 2019,  the Royals blasted through Tuesday night at Hastings Stadium with a 16-8 victory to stay alive in their best of five quarter-final series. 

Home runs were the main dish for the Royals as Josh Garton led the way with a three-run blast in the bottom of the first innings and added another loud solo shot in the 5th inning.   He finished with 4 RBI.   

Sean Reilly, Ashton Patterson, Dalton Pomey, Conner Morro, and starting pitcher Claudio Custodio all homered.

Pompey finished 4 for 4, scored 4 times, and stole two bases. Reilly went 3-for-5 and added four RBI.

Claudio Custodio (1-0) allowed an unearned run over six innings on the mound. He scattered three hits, walked two, and struck out 11.

The Royals built up a 12-1 lead and pulled Custodio from the game.  The Cardinals to their credit made it 12-8  before the Royals tacked on insurance runs in the bottom of the 8th inning,. 

Jeremie Veilleux went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI to lead the Cardinals

Michael Bonaccorso (0-1) took the loss, allowing seven runs on seven hits over five innings. He walked three and fanned two.

The Royals travel to Hamilton tonight for game four starting at 7:35 pm.   The Cardinals lead the series 2-1 .

After the first pitch was thrown by Custodio in the top of the 1st inning.  Cardinals manager Jeff Lounsbury notified the umpires that the Royals had improperly listed  Sean Reilly who was playing first base, as their Designated Hitter which disqualified Justin Interisano (he was listed on the lineup card as the first basemen) and meant that starting pitcher Claudio Custodio had to bat for himself in Interisano's spot in the order.