PHOENIX, Arizona-Canada and the United States played to a 2-2 tie as both squads opened exhibition play ahead of the upcoming WBSC Premier 12 tournament that will take place from November 8-21 at sites in Japan and Taiwan.
Canada opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the second inning before the US got on the scoreboard with a run in the third before drawing even with a run in the seventh.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: USA 2 Canada 2 - Box Score
Location: Maryvale Baseball Complex – Phoenix, Arizona
Weather: 27C, clear
Canada Starting Lineup:
1. Gillies CF
2. Orr 3B
3. O’Neill DH
4. Lennerton 1B
5. Kjeldgaard RF
6. Tosoni LF
7. Green DH
8. Jamieson SS
9. Deglan C
10. Stromsmoe 2B
Starting Pitcher: RHP Jared Mortensen
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Canada opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning plating a pair of runs as Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC) walked with the bases loaded before Skyler Stromsmoe’s (Etzikom, AB) ground out to first brought home Taylor Green (Comox, BC) from third base.
-An error, stolen base and passed ball put a runner on third base for the US in the top of the third before a base hit to right brought in their first run of the ballgame off Canadian starter Jared Mortensen (Abbotsford, BC).
-The US pulled even in the seventh using a leadoff single and stolen base to get a runner in scoring position that scored on a single off reliever Kyle Lotzkar (Delta, BC).
CANADA HIGHLIGHTS
- Fresh off a strong performance at the Pan American Games in July, longtime National Team player Pete Orr (Newmarket, ON) paced Canada’s offence with a two hit day at the plate.
-Canada’s arms looked anything but rusty on the day as the club used five pitchers to limit the US to two runs on eight hits and no walks.
-Reliever Andrew Albers (North Battleford, SK) worked his way out of trouble in the fourth after the two batters reached on an error and single as he got a pair of strikeouts in between a caught stealing to get out of the inning with a runner standing on third base.
-Scott Richmond (Vancouver, BC) and Dustin Molleken (Regina, SK) each worked perfect frames in the fifth and ninth, respectively.
TEAM LEADERS
Hits: 2, Orr (2/4); 1, Gillies (1/2), O’Neill (1/4), Kjeldgaard (1/4)
Runs: 1, Kjeldgaard, Green
RBIs: 1, Deglan, Stromsmoe
Stolen Bases: 1, Gillies, O’Neill
Strikeouts: 3, Mortensen, Albers; 2, Molleken; 1, Richmond
THEY SAID IT
Manager Ernie Whitt on his team’s performance on day one of training camp:
“We got out work in today, our pitchers threw well, our hitters got some at bats in and most importantly nobody got hurt. Overall I’m really pleased with today.”
Whitt on the five pitchers that threw today:
“Due to the layoff that these guys have had I expected the pitchers to be ahead of the hitters and I think we saw that today on both sides. Our pitchers threw strikes and were able to stay ahead for the most part.”
Whitt on his team with 17 players returning from the gold medal winning Pan Am games team:
“I hope that will be a big advantage for us. We know what our task at hand is, we’re going over to win it. The timing of the tournament is difficult because guys need to get themselves back into playing shape after being off for some time. But, with the time we have (here) we’ll be ready once the tournament starts.”
Whitt on returning to coach Team Canada for the 13th time:
“I enjoy it. It’s a thrill for and an honour and me. Every time Greg (Hamilton) calls and asks if I’ll manage a tournament team I won’t deny it.”
UP NEXT
Canada will face the United States tomorrow (1pm MT/3pm ET) in game two of the three game exhibition series…RHP Shawn Hill (Georgetown, ON) is expected to start on the mound for Canada…Live scoring for the game will be available courtesy USA Baseball at usabaseball.com.
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