DUNEDIN – The Toronto Blue Jays pitching held the Junior National Team to four hits and struck out nine on route to a 3-0 victory at the Blue Jays spring training home, the Bobby Mattick Complex, at the Disney Spring Training Camp.
The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the third inning against JNT starter Evan Rutckyj (Windsor, ON). With runners on first and third with one out, Rutckyj was called for a balk which allowed the first run to score. After an error once again put runners on the corners, Rutckyj was called for a second balk allowing another run to score and the Blue Jays took a 2-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, Cédrick Vallières (Roxton Pond, QC) drew a one out walk and moved to third on a Ryan Clarke (Mississauga, ON) single to put runners on the corners. Emmanuel Forcier (St-Hyacinthe, QC) reached on a fielder’s choice, keeping runners on the corners with two outs but was then caught stealing to end the inning without bringing a run across.
The JNT would put runners in scoring position in the fifth and seventh innings, but both times could not cash in against the Blue Jays who would strand every runner who reached base against them in this contest.
The Blue Jays would add to their lead in the eighth inning off Evan Grills (Whitby, ON), who gave up a leadoff walk, a single and an RBI double as the Jays scored their final run of the game and take a 3-0 lead.
Joel Pierce (Windsor, ON) was excellent in relief for the JNT in this game, throwing three perfect innings. Rowan Wick (North Vancouver, BC), Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, ON), Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC) and Clarke got the hits for the Canadians. Wick’s hit was a double in the fifth.
The Junior National Team will head back to Disney for a matchup with the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, April 21 at 1 PM at Champion Field at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex. Brian Smith (Pickering, ON) will get the start for the Canadians.
