Cardinals held to two hits in loss to Maple Leafs

The Hamilton Cardinals lost 5-1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night.

This game featured quality pitching from both teams. Hamilton’s starter, Chris Lazar pitched over six innings, including a stretch where he retired nine straight batters.

Owen MacNiel pitched in relief of Lazar, going two and two thirds innings, conceding no runs on no hits and striking out three.

A two-run home run by Toronto’s Damon Topolie was the difference in this one, as the Maple Leafs took the lead in the top of the second inning and never looked back. 

Leafs pitchers, Marek Deska, Zach Sloan, and Chris Nagorski, combined to give up just one run on two hits, striking out six batters.

Cardinals right-fielder, Tyler Duncan, had the two lone hits in the game for Hamilton, an RBI double and a triple. Of the seven triples hit by Hamilton this season, Duncan had four of them.  

Deska was credited with his second win, while Lazar was credited with his second loss of the year. 

With this loss, Hamilton falls to 4-10 and still sits in seventh place. Hamilton also snaps their two-game home win streak. 

The Cardinals play on the road in Guelph Saturday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Hastings Stadium.

Then, Hamilton will return home on Sunday, June 26 to take on the London Majors at 2:05 p.m. at CARSTAR Field at Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium. 

Get your tickets for Sunday's game, and any Cardinals home game during the regular season, through SeatGIANT.

Written by Jarrett Matthews
Photo by Art Ward