SAN PEDRO DE MACORIS – A four-run fourth inning by the Texas Rangers created enough of a gap that the Junior National Team could not comeback in a 8-5 game one loss, but a three-run ninth inning salvaged a tie against the Toronto Blue Jays by a score of 5-5.
In game one, the first three innings were back and forth between the two teams, starting in the top of the first when the JNT put three runs on the board. They would load the bases with no outs to start the game and Ricky Bertrand (Surrey, BC) drove in the first run with a single. Philip Diedrick (Ajax, ON) would later follow with a two-run single and the Canadians took a 3-0 lead.
The Rangers would cut that lead to one in the bottom half of the first when three straight singles given up by JNT starter Emerson Savage (Bartibog Bridge, NB) to lead off the frame drove in a pair of runs to make it 3-2.
The Canadians would increase the lead in the top of the third when Bertrand drove in his second run of the game on a ground out to score Keenan Chanin (Surrey, BC) and make it 4-2.
But the Rangers would tie it up in the bottom of the third. A balk would force in the first run while an RBI single drove in the second run and the score was tied at 4-4.
Then the Rangers broke it open in the bottom of the fourth. A leadoff single, followed by a walk and a fielder’s choice drove in the first run. With one out, a triple would drive in a pair of runs and an RBI single would complete the scoring in the frame as the Rangers took a 8-4 lead.
Savage would be charged with all eight runs, seven of which were earned over 3-2/3 innings, allowing seven hits and four walks with three strikeouts.
Joel Pierce (Windsor, ON) came in relief and held the Rangers offence in check the rest of the way, allowing only one hit and one walk over four innings of work, striking out seven along the way.
But the offence was only able to produce one run in the seventh for the remainder of the game when Chanin drove in Chayse Marion (Red Deer, AB) with an RBI single to cut the deficit to three.
Of note, the JNT got 13 hits in game one, but left 11 runners on base. Eight of those 13 hits came from four different players as Chanin, Diedrick, Emmanuel Forcier (St-Hyacinthe, QC) and Jimmy Ralph (Raymond, AB) each got a pair of hits.
In game two, the Blue Jays jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a two-run double of of starter Tom Robson (Ladner, BC).
The JNT cut the lead to one in the top of the fourth when Chanin, who had reached on a walk, scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-1.
But the Blue Jays responded in the bottom of the fifth as a pair of RBI singles would score two more runs and the DSL Blue Jays would take a three-run lead.
That would be it for Robson after the fifth. He allowed four runs on six hits and a walk, but would fan seven Blue Jays hitters.
The Blue Jays lead would climb to four in the bottom of the seventh off of reliever Brian Smith (Pickering, ON) when a triple followed by an RBI single made it 5-1. That would be the only run Smith would allow in four inning of relief, scattering four hits while striking out seven in his outing.
Despite the deficit, the JNT kept clawing back; starting by cutting the deficit to three in the top of the eighth as Jordan Boston (Brampton, ON) hit an RBI double, driving in Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, ON) to make it 5-2.
The JNT would complete the comeback in the top of the ninth. It started with back-to-back singles by Diedrick and Jalen Harris (Toronto, ON) to leadoff the frame. With one out, Jerod Bartnik (Surrey, BC) stroked a triple to drive both runners and cut the lead to one. With Bartnik on third and two outs, Brandon Dailey (Brantford, ON) drove him in with a single and ties the game 5-5.
Dailey was 2-for-4 in game two, while Harris was 2-for-2 with a run scored. Diedrick had a solid day, going 3-for-7 combined in both games with a double a run scored and two RBI.
Another doubleheader is next for the Junior National Team on Monday, May 24, this time in Boca Chica. Game one, the JNT takes on the Tampa Bay Rays at 10:30 AM with Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) scheduled to take the mound. Game two will be a matchup with the San Francisco Giants at 2:30 PM as Vaughn Covington (Vancouver, BC) will be on the hill.
