Royals win fourth straight in 12-4 rout of Cardinals

Photo by Gar Fitzgerald

A pitcher's duel for the first half of the ballgame turned one-sided in the later stages as the Guelph Royals defeated the Hamilton Cardinals 12-4 Saturday night at Hastings Stadium.

The Royals got to Cardinals starter Aaron Duffy (0-0)  for two runs in their first at bat thanks partly to a tough sky in left field as the sun was setting.  

Duffy,  the former Great Lakes Canadian made his second start of the season for the Cardinals, and settled down after the first, retiring 11 consecutive batters from the second inning onwards in his second consecutive no-decision.   He pitched 5 complete innings allowing 2 runs on five hits, with no walks, and struck out nine Royals.

Veteran right-hander Emilis Guerrero (3-2) took the ball for the Royals and held the Cardinals at bay for eight innings allowing a pair of runs (one earned) on seven hits, and two walks. He struck out eight.

With the score tied at 2-2 in the 7th inning, Kyle Kush led off the frame by reaching on an error and later stole second base before scoring just ahead of the throw to the plate on a two-out single to center by Ethan Hammond.  The Royals would add two more runs a triple by Malik Collymore to close out the scoring in that frame.  

The  Royals batted around in the 8th and plated seven more runs (all unearned) thanks to two timely errors by the Cardinals.

Jacob Gajic took the loss for the Cards allowing 3 unearned runs over 1.2 innings pitched, allowing three hits and a walk.

Collymore paced the Royals at the plate finishing 2 for 4 with three RBI.   Dalton Pompey drove home two while Conner Morro added a pair of hits, scored three times, and added an RBI.

Justin Gideon answered back for the Cardinals in the 9th inning with a two-run blast to left center off Jason Boulanger for his 6th home run of the campaign and finished with two runs scored.  Tristan Osika had an RBI and Sean Pettener went 2-for-3 with a run.

The Royals  (10-7) with their fourth consecutive win, edged to within two games in the standings of the first place Welland Jackfish who lost their third straight Saturday evening to the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2.   The Cardinals fell to 4-11 on the year. 

The Royals will continue their four-game homestand on Tuesday night against the Maple Leafs at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available online or at the gate on gameday.