Majors Lose in Tough Battle to Hamilton

Written by Dan Haugh / Photo by C.W Photos

The London Majors started a back-to-back weekend series with the Hamilton Cardinals on the wrong end of a 5-1 score at Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium in Hamilton on Thursday night.

Hamilton scored first in the bottom of the first inning, but the Majors got that run back in the top of the sixth when Toby Simmons reached base on a walk, advanced to second base on a balk. Simmons then stole third base before scoring his team’s only run on a Hamilton error. That steal was his 15th of the season.

The game did not remain tied at 1-1 for long as the Cardinals put up four runs in the bottom of the sixth off Majors starting pitcher Victor Payano who, up to that point, had only given up three hits in the first five innings, Paynao who took the loss was relieved by Ryan Beitel in the eighth inning.

Hamilton starting pitcher Enrique Saldana earned his second win of the season by holding London to one run on four hits. All four hits came from Francisco Fajardo and Champ Garner, who had two singles each. Despite the loss the London Majors are in third place in the Intercounty Baseball League standings with a record of 17-11. They are a half game behind the Barrie Baycats, who shut out the Guelph Royals on Thursday night. Welland Jackfish are currently on an eight-game winning streak and sit atop the standings, 4.5 games ahead of Barrie.

The home and home series with the Hamilton Cardinals wraps up Friday night at Labatt Memorial Park. First pitch is 7:35 P.M.