Majors Drop Tight Battle to Cardinals at Home
Written by: Evan Frederiksen / Photos By Mason Dawdy
The London Majors welcomed the Hamilton Cardinals to Historic Labatt Memorial Park Sunday afternoon, looking to keep their six-game winning streak alive as the regular season enters its final stretch. With the CBL playoff picture beginning to take shape, every game carries added significance, and London had another opportunity to strengthen its hold on the top spot in the standings. Despite battling throughout the afternoon, the Majors couldn't overcome a late push from Hamilton, as the Cardinals handed London a 6-4 loss and snapped the Majors' six-game winning streak.
Sunday's matchup featured arguably two of the best pitching staffs in the CBL, setting the stage for a potential battle on the mound.
Pitching was the story to begin the contest, as both Victor Payano and Luis Ramirez were sharp through their first three innings of work. The Cardinals were the first team to scrape across any runs acorss in the top of the fourth, as Jaden Brown smacked an RBI single to right field. Evan Magill then followed with an RBI single of his own, scoring Dario Berreo. Brandon Nicoll capped off the three-run inning with an RBI double to left field, extending the Cardinals' lead to 3-0.
After the London offence was held scoreless through four innings, the Majors responded with a three-run inning of their own in the bottom of the fifth. Jordan Lewis got things started when he saw a 1-0 fastball from Luis Ramirez and lined it into left field, scoring Eduardo De Oleo. Maikol Escotto, who entered the contest 12-for-24 (.500) over his last five games, then displayed his speed by hitting into a fielder's choice that scored David Draayers, cutting the Cardinals' lead to 3-2. Trent Lenihan then came through with a runner at third and one out, lifting a sacrifice fly to left field to tie the game at 3-3 after five innings.
Victor Payano was solid through his six frames of work. Caleb Cassie, Dustin Davidson and Kade Douglas then followed Payano out of the bullpen.
(Photo By Mason Dawdy)
Victor Payano’s Final Line Against Hamilton:
Ramirez was equally effective for Hamilton, as the Dominican Republic native worked six innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits while striking out five.
After both squads went scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings, Hamilton broke through again in the top of the eighth when Jaden Brown picked up his second RBI of the game with a single to centre field, giving the Cardinals a 4-3 lead. Hamilton then added two more runs on a throwing error by London, which allowed Jaden Brown and Tyler Duncan to score, extending the Cardinals' lead to 6-3.
The Cardinals called upon Freisis Adames for the bottom of the ninth, and the Majors managed to push across one more run when Jordan Lewis delivered an RBI single to make it a 6-4 game. That was all the offence London could muster up, as Adames recorded the final out to earn his second save of the season.
With the loss, the Majors move to 27-12 on the season but still maintain a one-and-a-half-game lead for the No. 1 seed in the CBL.
CBL standings
Team W-L GB STRK
The Majors will look to get back in the win column on Wednesday, August 12, when the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers visit Labatt Memorial Park. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.