Cardinals keep pennant hopes alive with 4-2 win over Baycats

HAMILTON – Hamilton kept its pennant hopes alive with a 4-2 win over Barrie on Friday night at Bernie Arbour Stadium. Carlos Dominguez did all of the Cardinals' offensive damage, going 3-for-4 with a three-run home run and a fielder's choice that scored Dario Borrero. Brandon Nicoll and Jeremie Veilleux each went 2-for-3 and scored. Hamilton starting pitcher Caleb Seroski (4-6) struck out six over five shutout innings for the win. Danny Garcia allowed a run on two hits and a walk in the ninth inning to get his second save. Hamilton (29-17) has won four straight and trails London by 1.5 games with two games remaining before playoffs. Nolan Machibroda's RBI single and RBI double scored the Baycats' runs. Ryan Rijo added a pair of hits. Saul Vasquez took the loss after allowing three runs on eight hits in five innings. He struck out six. Barrie (27-21) will be the fifth seed entering playoffs. Saturday night brings the biggest game of the season for the Cardinals. Hamilton heads to Guelph with the Royals also sitting at 29-17, and Guelph holds the tiebreaker. A loss likely sends the Cardinals to the wildcard game unless Welland drops one of its final two — Saturday against Toronto or Sunday, when the Jackfish resume a suspended game against London in the top of the fifth leading 9-2. A Hamilton win Saturday puts the Cardinals in position to clinch the pennant on Sunday with a victory and a London loss.