Ashe the Hero as Royals Comeback to Walk-Off Cardinals
GUELPH - Walk it off, Evan.
The Guelph Royals rallied in the ninth inning — and then again in the 10th — to comeback and defeat the Hamilton Cardinals 5-4 on Saturday to improve to 11-7 on the season.
With the loss, the Cardinals fall to 10-10.
Guelph starter Hector Yan took a no-decision after pitching five innings of two-run ball.
The southpaw allowed four hits and four walks while striking out three batters.
Royals catcher Evan Ashe was the hero on the night, going two-for-five, with no hit more important than his walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Hamilton reliever Casey Howard took the loss, allowing two earned runs on one hit and two walks, all without recording an out.
HAMILTON - 4-7-2
GUELPH - 5-10-1
BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME: Ashe’s bases-loaded, no one out single in the bottom of the 10th was the Royals first walk off win in 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS..
1. The Royals were down to their last out once, as they trailed the Cardinals 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning with a runner on first and two-out. However, Ryosuke Ohashi single, followed by a wild pitch, scored Ashton Patterson to tie the game
2. A two-hit game from Ashe, who is batting .294 on the season.
2. The Royals most dramatic win of their season was also their biggest, with the Royals moving two games ahead of the Cardinals for the four-seed in the IBL. The top four teams in the IBL will have home-field advantage throughout the first-round of the playoffs.
6. The bottom-third of the Royals lineup reached base six times on Saturday, providing the Royals offence a much-needed spark.
LOOKING AHEAD...
The Royals are right back at it on Sunday when they host the Barrie Baycats for a rare Sunday evening home game.