TORONTO DROPS REMATCH AGAINST HAMILTON

Written by: Olivia Byrne

HAMILTON, Ont. — Toronto’s rematch against the Hamilton Cardinals did not go in their favour, losing 11-1 at Bernie Arbour Stadium.

The Cardinals entered tonight’s game looking for revenge after losing 3-6 to the Maple Leafs just two days ago. Almost immediately, they got to Leafs' starter Wilgenis Alvarado, notching two runs before the first out was recorded. 

Hamilton kept things rolling in the 1st, taking an early 4-0 lead before the inning ended. 

With the momentum on their side, the Cardinals did not let Alvarado off easy, racking up his pitch count in the bottom of the 2nd with long at-bats. Eventually, Hamilton would add another run from a sacrifice fly, extending their lead to 5-0.

Hamilton singled and scored another run off of Alvarado in the bottom of the 3rd to make it 6-0. Alvarado was pulled, and the ball was handed to Yadian Martinez. 

Martinez recorded two consecutive outs, but a passed ball that got away from Matt Brandt allowed another runner to cross home plate, increasing the Cardinals’ lead to seven.

The real trouble for Martinez came in the 4th, when he loaded the bases and then gave up four runs over three batters, bringing the score to 11-0. 

The lone run for Toronto came in the top of the 9th, where Dennis Dei Baning first reached on a throwing error by the Hamilton shortstop. 

After an 8-pitch at-bat, Dionysius Chialtas sent the ball towards the Cardinals’ second baseman, who overthrew to first. The ball sailed by first base, allowing Chialtas to reach and plating Dei Baning, bringing the final score to 11-1.

UP NEXT: After the CBL All-Star Weekend ends on Sunday, the Maple Leafs head home to play the Brantford Red Sox on Jul. 15. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.