Nats bats are finally blazing

The Stratford Nationals have made it clear they’re not going down without a fight, winning two out of three games last week.

Last Thursday, the Nationals snuck by the Hamilton Thunderbirds 8-7 in the home game.

Stratford’s Jon Roth hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Nationals to the win.

Chadwick Cameron picked up the win with four innings of relief. He struck out six and walked three while allowing one run on four hits.

Doug Chrysler was the loser for the Thunderbirds, also going four innings. He allowed three runs on four hits with two strikeouts and a walk. Scott Wells had two hits, a triple and a solo home run, for Hamilton in a losing cause.

The Nats kept up their momentum, defeating the Kitchener Panthers 11-9 on Friday night.

Justin Pennell sparked the 12-hit Stratford attack with two hits, including a homer, and drove in four runs as the host Nationals broke a 9-9 tie with two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Reliever Cory Hammond picked up the win, allowing one run on three hits over four innings, striking out five and walking four.

The loser in relief was Julian Granado, who allowed two runs on three hits with two walks in the decisive eighth inning. Matt Taube had four hits in a losing cause for Kitchener, including a homer, and drove in four runs.

On Saturday, the Nationals battled the London Majors for 12 innings before falling to the first-place team 4-3.

Jess Bechard’s RBI double in the top of the 12th inning drove in the winning run for the Majors. In total, London had nine hits to edge the stubborn Nationals. Stratford (6-26) slipped three games behind Hamilton with the loss with just four games left to play.

Bechard wound up with three hits including a home run for the Majors, and drove in three of London’s four runs.

Pierre Deschenes got the win in relief for the Majors, pitching three hitless innings of relief after the ninth inning. He struck out five and walked none.

Winder Fuentes led the Nationals with a pair of doubles, but Stratford could manage just six hits in 12 innings as their playoff hopes dimmed. Simon Liston took the loss in a heroic effort, allowing four runs on nine hits while going all 12 innings. He struck out six and walked seven.