ORLANDO – It was a back and forth battle, unfortunately it only lasted five innings. The Houston Astros held a 5-3 lead over the Junior National Team in Fall Instructional League camp action before the rain came down and the game was called after five innings.
The Astros opened the scoring immediately in the first inning, scoring a pair of runs on four hits against Canadian starter Jordan Wong (Calgary, AB). Wong would finish strong in his two innings of work, allowing the two first inning runs and four hits and a pair of walks.
The Canadians came roaring back in the second inning, leading off with back-to-back single by Larry Balkwill (Chatham, ON) and Donovan Latour (Barrie, ON) and then Mitch Frey (Medicine Hat, AB) reaching on an error to load the bases. With one out in the inning, Keaton Briscoe (North Vancouver, BC) laced a two-run double bringing in Balkwill and Latour to tie things up at two apiece. Trevor Barton (London, ON) added a two-out infield single to drive in Frey and give Canada a 3-2 lead.
Houston tied the game in the third when a single and a double off Yan Fortin (Laval, QC) drove in a run to knot it at 3-3. The Astros retook the lead in the fourth inning when Colin Delome hit a two-run home run and give his team a 5-3 advantage.
Fortin ended his day after two innings pitched, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four.
Latour then came in to pitch and threw one inning and allowed two walks in the frame while striking out the side before the game was called.
The Junior National Team will once again take to the field at the Fall Instructional League camp on Wednesday, October 8 at 1 pm when the Canadians take on the Atlanta Braves.
