KISSIMMEE, Fl – Baseball Canada’s national senior team was edged 4-2 today in a tight exhibition game against the U.S. national team as both squads prepare for the 2006 COPABE Americas Olympic Qualifier next week.
Canada out-hit the Americans 8-6, but stranded nine runners while the Americans hit the ball hard to produce three of their four runs behind two solo-homeruns and a triple.
After Sebastien Boucher (
The Americans scored twice more in the third inning thanks to a solo-shot to left field from shortstop Brandon Wood and an RBI-groundout by third baseman Mike Kinkade that scored centerfielder Skip Schumaker from third base.
U.S designated hitter Jarrod Saltalamacchia tripled off the wall in straight-away centre with two out in the bottom of the sixth inning to send Allen home from first base for the fourth American run. Canadian designated hitter/right fielder Jeremy Ware (
Second baseman Matt Rogelstad (New Westminster, B.C.) singled and third baseman Emerson Frostad (Vancouver, B.C.) doubled to lead-off the ninth inning, but American closer Henry Owens stuck out the next two batters and induced a fly-ball to left to end the game.
Canada got an impressive showing out of its bullpen as Cory Stuart (
Canada’s final tune-up before heading to the Olympic Qualifier, which begins Aug. 25 in
