BOCA CHICA – Mike Ellis (Surrey, BC) threw five shutout innings and the Junior National Team offence produced when it needed to on route to a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins in their opener of the Dominican Summer League Camp.
Ellis was on top of his game from the start, allowing only three hits and a walk in his five innings of work. He also fanned three Twins hitters.
His performance allowed the JNT to get on the board first in the top of the fourth inning as Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, ON) drove in Jimmy Ralph (Raymond, AB) on a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded to take a 1-0 lead.
The Twins tied the game in the bottom of the sixth against JNT reliever Brian Smith (Pickering, ON) who walked the leadoff hitter who would advance to second on a passed ball, then move to third on an error and would come in to score on a wild pitch.
Smith would recover as he pitched two innings of no-hit ball, allowing one unearned run on three walks and a wild pitch. He also struck out three.
The Canadians would regain the lead in the top of the eighth as Jalen Harris (Toronto, ON) and Philip Diedrick (Ajax, ON) led off with a pair of singles. They would come in to score on a Alex Calbick (Burnaby, BC) fielder’s choice and a Ralph ground out to take a 3-1 lead.
The Twins reduced the deficit to one in the bottom half of the eighth against reliever Joel Pierce (Windsor, ON), but in the ninth, Pierce struck out the side to end the game and preserve the win.
Pierce would allow one run without surrendering a hit in two innings of work. He walked a pair while striking out four. Also of note, Emmanuel Forcier (St-Hyacinthe, QC) went 2-for-4 on the day, while Pompey was 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Next up for the Junior National Team is a doubleheader on Friday, May 21. First, the JNT will take on the Seattle Mariners in Villa Mella at 10:30 AM. Evan Grills (Whitby, ON) is scheduled to start on the mound in game one. Game two will see the JNT take on the Milwaukee Brewers in Guanuma at 2:30 PM. Jonathan Paquet (Ancienne Lorette, QC) is scheduled to take the bump.
