PHOENIX, Arizona- The United States took advantage of a bases loaded situation in the sixth that saw two runs score on a single en route to a 2-0 win over Canada. The two teams will play the third and final game of the exhibition series tomorrow.
For the second consecutive game, the pitchers prevailed over the hitters as another low scoring exhibition contest was played between Canada and the United States prepare for the upcoming WBSC Premier 12 tournament that will be played November 8-21 at sites in Japan and Taiwan.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: USA 2 Canada 0
Location: Hank Aaron Field at Maryvale Baseball Complex – Phoenix, Arizona
Weather: 28C, clear
Canada Starting Lineup:
1. Jamieson SS
2. Orr 3B
3. Morgan LF
4. Lennerton 1B
5. O’Neill DH
6. Deglan DH
7. Houle C
8. Tosoni RF
9. Gillies CF
10. Stromsmoe 2B
Starting Pitcher: RHP Shawn Hill
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Canadian reliever Ethan Elias (Entwistle, AB) allowed two walks and a double in the sixth that loaded the bases before a one out single to right field plated two runs for the only scoring of the ballgame.
CANADA HIGHLIGHTS
-Canada was limited to just four hits on offence and Pete Orr (Newmarket, ON) had two of them for his second two hit game in a row.
-Canadian starter Shawn Hill (Georgetown, ON) turned in a solid performance on the mound as he worked three scoreless innings without allowing a hit. Hill faced just ten hitters with his only blemish coming in the form of a lead off walked issued in the second inning.
-Reliever Ethan Stewart (Campbell River, BC) gave up three consecutive singles in the fourth before battling back to get three fly-outs that left the bases loaded. Stewart got out of another bases loaded situation in the fifth, this time getting a 4-6-3 double play.
-After giving up a pair of runs in the sixth, Ethan Elias turned in a perfect frame in the seventh before Jasvir Rakkar (North York, ON) tossed scoreless frames in the eight and ninth innings.
TEAM LEADERS
Hits: 2, Orr (2/3); 1, Lennerton (1/3), Tosoni (1/2)
Stolen Bases: 1, Orr
Strikeouts: 2, Elias; 1, Stewart
THEY SAID IT
Manager Ernie Whitt after two exhibition contests against Team USA:
“The pitchers are ahead of the hitters right now, but we’ve got another ten days before we get into the real thing. Hopefully (our hitters) can get their timing down, but it’s kind of expected after such a long layoff after the season ended. Both teams are getting their work in right now which is a positive thing.”
“We’ve got a game here tomorrow and couple (exhibition) games once we get over to the Far East, so we’ll isolate our hitting a little bit, get more reps for our guys and be ready for the tournament opener.”
Whitt on starting pitcher and National Team veteran, Shawn Hill:
“He changes speeds and he throws strikes. He doesn’t light up the radar gun but he gets people out and that’s the name of the game here.”
UP NEXT
Canada will face the United States tomorrow (1pm MT/3pm ET) in game three of the three game exhibition series… Live scoring for the game will be available courtesy USA Baseball at usabaseball.com.
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