Majors’ Snap Streak in Hamilton

Written by Dan Haugh / Photo by Matt Hiscox

The London Majors came up with a good overall team effort Sunday afternoon defeating the Hamilton Cardinals 7-3 at Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium in Hamilton. With today's win and a Barrie Baycats win yesterday over the Kitchener Panthers, second place in the IBL standings is crowded as it is populated by both London and Barrie who have identical 23-17 records.

Things should get interesting next weekend as playoff matchups are established with

London's final two games being against the Baycats and the Chatham-Kent Barnstorners who are just one game behind in fourth place with a record of 22-18. “Victor Payano gave us a good start, and our bullpen was solid again as Jose Arias and Skylar Janisse closed out the game,” was how field Manager Roop Chanderdat described the solid pitching London received.

Payano was on the mound for seven innings allowing the three Hamilton runs on six hits

while striking out seven. Arias and Janisse both pitched a scoreless inning in relief of Payano. Today was the 22nd time that Janisse has taken to the mound in 40 regular season games. A workhorse indeed.

Chanderdat had a few comments about the offense as well, “We were missing a couple

starters today, but it’s next man up. Dre Amaral and Ty Mosher stepped in, and they

played well. When we win we do the little things well. That was evident today. Toby

Simmons executed two big hit and run plays, and he made a great catch in centre field.”

London took the lead early with a run in the second followed by two runs in the fifth inning. With the game tied 3-3 the Majors were able to shape a timely four-run rally in the eighth inning to give them the final margin of victory.

London scored their seven runs on a total of 13 hits and two Hamilton errors. Catcher Eduardo De Oleo led the way with three hits including his 11th home run of the season. Toby Simmons generated his eighth double and fourth triple of the season which

provided two RBI.

Byron Reichstein and Tucker Zdunich each had a two-bagger each. Raphael Pelletier, Ken Sugi, Champ Garner, and Josh Niles all had one hit and an RBI. Ty Mosher had a single and Dre Amaral had a single and two runs scored to round out the 13-hit assault.

Final IBL playoff match-ups will not likely be determined for sure until next Sunday's

games. Next home contest for the London Majors will be Friday August 15th when the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers blow into Labatt Memorial Park for a very important 7:35 first pitch.