BOCA CHICA, Dominican Republic –-- The Dominican Summer League tour is entering its final stages as Saturday’s finale draws near but the Junior National Team still has business to take care of before then including today’s match-up with the DSL Mets that ended in a 5-5 tie.
A quick start has become a trademark of the Junior National Team throughout the Dominican Summer League tour and it was no different today as the squad scored three runs in the top of the first to jump out to an early lead.
Ryan Leitch’s (Whitby, ON) one out double to centre plated Micah McDowell (Coldbrook, NS) before Owen Diodati (Niagara Falls, ON) snuck on through the middle of the field that allowed two runs to score.
After adding a run in the second on a Dasan Brown (Oakville, ON) RBI double, the Mets made some noise with three singles to load the bases before a sac-fly and two-run single brought them to within a run of the lead.
Starting pitcher Eli Saul (Vancouver, BC) got out of a tough situation in the fourth stranding runners on second and third with two strikeouts before the skies opened up in the top of the fifth causing a 45 minute rain delay.
When play resumed, and the game moved to a turfed field, Owen Diodati reached on an error that brought in Micah McDowell from third base to give the juniors a two-run lead.
The lead was short-lived however as the Mets loaded the bases on two singles and hit batter in the bottom of the frame before a two-run single to centre brought in two runs.
Mitch Bratt (Newmarket, ON) relieved Saul to start the sixth and he worked his way through three scoreless innings allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out five batters.
UP NEXT
The Junior National Team will be back in action tomorrow with a scheduled doubleheader against the DSL Dodgers (10AM ET) followed by a contest with the DSL Reds (2:30PM ET).
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