Dominguez drives in 5 as Hamilton Cardinals defeat Kitchener Panthers 13-1

Carlos Dominguez drove in five runs, including a three-run homer, to lead the Hamilton Cardinals to a 13-1 victory over the Kitchener Panthers on Friday night at Bernie Arbour Stadium. Dominguez went 3-for-5 with three runs scored. He opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-run double and later added a three-run homer in the fifth. Darlin German also contributed with three hits, scoring three times and driving in one run. The Cardinals jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the first inning. Evan Magill started the rally with a single, followed by Dominguez's double. Newcomer Dario Borrero capped the inning with a single that brought home two runs. In the third inning, Dominguez reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Brandon Nicoll to score, extending the lead to 5-0. Kitchener got on the board in the sixth when Kyle Walde's sacrifice fly scored Ethan McKeown, but Hamilton answered in the bottom half. Angel Guerrero and German both singled to open the frame, and a Reyny Reyes double brought them home. A passed ball and a Guerrero single tacked on two more, and the Cardinals carried a 9-1 lead into the seventh. Hamilton put the game away in the eighth. After Guerrero reached on an error and German singled, Dominguez launched a three-run homer to left field to make it 13-1. Kitchener threatened in the ninth, loading the bases on a walk, a hit-by-pitch, and another walk, but reliever Brandon Nicoll got a groundout to end it and seal the win. Hector Yan started for Hamilton and earned the win, going five innings with one earned run on four hits, striking out one. Jommer Hernandez and Nicoll finished the final four innings without allowing a run. Yuri Yokoyama took the loss for the Panthers. The Cardinals return to action Saturday night in Barrie.