McGuire’s bases-loaded triple in 7th gives Royals win over Tigers

BUCYRUS — Perhaps Huron should have given Grant McGuire the Barry Bonds treatment.

Major League Baseball’s all-time home run leader, Bonds once was walked intentionally with the bases loaded because of his opponent feared letting him bat would result in something far worse than one run.

Wynford’s slugger McGuire belted a two-out bases-loaded triple to give his team a 9-8 walk-off win in its baseball season opener Monday.

It capped a four-run inning by the Royals, who had their first three batters reach. Collen Hulsmeyer singled, Brett Crall walked and Wes Prenger singled. A one-out walk to Kaiden Blair made it an 8-6 game, and after Spencer Miller popped out to second base, McGuire lined a triple to right field for the win.

“This is a big win for us to open the season against a very good team,” Wynford coach Tom Smith said. “Our players kept playing even though we trailed most of the game. The walk-off win should give us a boost of confidence moving forward.”

The Royals tied the game at 3 with three runs in the third but then gave up five runs in the top of the sixth. They got two of those runs back in the bottom of the sixth.

Miller finished with three hits, while Blair, McGuire, Drew Johnson and Hulsmeyer had two apiece. Johnson had three RBIs, and Blair scored three runs. Miller scored twice.

Hunter Routson was the winning pitcher in relief, giving up two earned runs on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts in two innings. Jackson Rayborn started and gave up five earned runs on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts in five innings.

Tommy Ray and Sam Cox had two hits each for Huron.

Dylan Hohler was the losing pitcher, allowing nine earned runs on 12 hits and seven walks with nine strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

Wynford hosts Seneca East at 5 p.m. today.

 

Score by innings

Huron                          120                              005                              0                                  — 8 10 0

Wynford                      003                              002                              4                                  — 9 12 2

WP: Routson (1-0); LP: Hohler (0-1).

2B: Scroghins (H), Cox (H), Blair (W).

3B: McGuire (W).