GUERRA, Dominican Republic- The Junior National Team received solid outings from Kurtis Horne (Sooke, BC) and Colton Wood (Victoria, BC), but could not muster any offence as the Chicago Cubs Dominican prospects blanked the juniors 2-0.
The Cubs limited the JNT to five hits and capitalized in the third on four errors to score two runs for all of the offence they would need.
In the top of the first, Matt Lloyd (Okotoks, AB) kept swinging a hot bat as he lined a one-out single over the second baseman’s glove and Josh Naylor (Mississauga, ON) picked his first of two hits with a two-out single, but both runners were left stranded.
Starter Kurtis Horne cruised through his first two inning of work allowing a hit in the first that was erased after a pick-off and hitting a batter in the second only to be left on base after a fly-out and strikeout.
Things changed in the third thanks to some sloppy defence that saw two batters reach via error, one batter reach after a walk and another reach on a dropped third strike.
Still in the third, with the score 1-0, a line drive deflected off third baseman Tristan Clarke’s (Brampton, ON) glove which brought in the second run of the frame.
None of the runs were charged to Horne and he finished his four inning out allowing three hits and two walks, while striking out three batters.
The juniors had a chance to cut into the Cubs’ lead in the fifth as Josh Naylor led-off with a double that got to the fence in left and he moved to third on a ground out. Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, ON) then drew a one-out walk, but two consecutive strikeouts ended the rally and the Cubs remained in front by two.
Colton Wood came into the game for Horne to start the fifth and he retired two batters quickly on a groundout and strikeout before giving up a two-out double. Wood then got his second groundout of the inning to second baseman Peter Hutzal (Calgary, AB) to get out of the inning.
Wood kept his side in the game the rest of the way keeping the Cubs off the scoreboard and ended his four-inning outing with six strikeouts.
In the ninth, Mitch Bigras (Sarnia, ON) came off the bench and delivered a two-out double to right field, but a pair of fly-outs kept Bigras at second base and gave the Cubs the win.
Newcomer Peter Hutzal singled in the third with two-out, but was thrown out at second base when he tried to take an extra bag after the centre fielder briefly misplayed the ball.
Notes: After the game the juniors received a tour through the Cubs $7.5 million Dominican Complex that was built in 2013. The complex features state-of-the-art dorms, dining areas, offices, fitness facilities, clubhouse and three full fields including one artificial turf surface…The juniors will be back in action tomorrow at 11am ET when they return to Guerra to take-on the Kansas City Royals Dominican prospects…LHP Kyle Ross (Maple Ridge, BC) is expected to start…You can receive live updates from both contests by following @Team_C_Updates on Twitter.
Twitter: @baseballcanada / @Team_C_Updates
