LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida- In what had the makings of a close game early on turned out to be anything but for the Junior National Team as the Houston Astros prospects earned a one-sided 15-2 win earlier today at Champion Stadium at ESPN Wide World of Sports.
Starter Michael Brettell (Fonthill, ON) exited the game after tossing three scoreless innings and the Astros took advantage scoring three runs in the fourth before scoring five and then seven runs in each of the fifth and sixth frames, respectively.
Josh Naylor (Mississauga, ON) belted a two run homer in the seventh, for his second round-tripper of the week, to account for the juniors’ only runs.
Naylor’s homer was one of five JNT hits on the afternoon with Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, ON), Kobe Hyland (Spruce Grove, AB), Miles Gordon (Oakville, ON) and Cooper Lamb (Burlington, ON) picking up the others.
The juniors had a chance to open the scoring in the top of the first loading the bases with nobody out, but two infield pop-outs and a ground out ended the threat.
Brettell was in control throughout his entire three-inning outing not allowing a hit or a walk and adding two strikeouts to his line.
The Astros got things going in the fourth as a leadoff triple off of reliever Kristjan Storrie (Langley, BC) came around to score the games first run on a passed ball before a walk followed by two singles plated another run. The Astros would add another run in the fourth before scoring five in the fifth with the big blow coming in the form of a three-run homer.
Alexis Lavergne (Gatineau, QC) took over for the sixth and the Astros kept coming scoring six runs before an out was recorded and adding another for good measure to go up by fifteen.
After a pitch hit Kobe Hyland in the seventh to put a runner on, Josh Naylor slugged a two-run homer coming with one out in the inning.
UP NEXT: The juniors will return to play at ESPN Wide World of Sports tomorrow with the Washington Nationals prospects providing the opposition with a 1pm EDT scheduled first pitch.
