Thomas and Kush Put on Clinic as Royals Win on Country Night
GUELPH - Yee haw!
In a brisk two hour and six minute game, the Guelph Royals shutout the London Majors 1-0 on Saturday evening to improve to 9-4 on the season.
With the loss, the Majors fall to 9-5.
Guelph starter Kyle Thomas was brilliant in his first start at home on the year, tossing five innings of shutout ball while allowing just three hits.
The former Detroit Tigers farmhand struck out five London batters.
Royals starter-turned-reliever Jacob Kush picked up the four-inning save, striking out six batters on just two hits.
Guelph third basemen Garrett Takamatsu led the way at the plate, going one-for-three while batting in the game's only run.
London starter Travis Keys was brilliant, despite taking the loss. The southpaw allowed one earned run on three hits and two walks in eight innings of work.
The first-year Major struck out nine Guelph batters.
LONDON - 0-3-0
GUELPH - 1-31
BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME: Up 1-0 in the top of the sixth inning, Kush found himself in a jam, with runners on the corner and two-out for Majors right fielder Starling Joseph. Kush, however, got Joseph to ground out to end the inning.
The Majors never got another runner in scoring position the rest of the way.
BY THE NUMBERS...
6. Just a combined six hits between the Royals and Majors on Saturday, in the pitchers' duel of the IBL season.
11. 11 combined strikeouts for Thomas and Kush, lowering their ERAs to 0.75 and 1.88, respectively.
100. Just 100 pitches thrown combined between Thomas and Kush, with Thomas throwing a brisk 49 pitches in five innings of work.
LOOKING AHEAD...
The Royals look to complete a perfect 4-0 week when they travel to Kitchener tomorrow to face the Panthers.
First pitch is set for 5:15.