DUNEDIN-The Toronto Blue Jays prospects pounded out fifteen hits including two home runs as they defeated the Junior National Team 13-3 at the Bobby Mattick Complex in Dunedin.
In the bottom of the first, the Jays erased a 1-0 JNT lead by striking for three runs off starter Kurtis Horne (Sooke, BC). Horne walked three in the inning and allowed two hits, while an error brought in a run.
Gareth Morgan (Toronto, ON) had given the juniors a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when he collected an RBI single that saw Jake Lumley (Windsor, ON) score with one out.
The juniors pushed a run across in the top of the second after John-Anthony Lantigua (Boischatel, QC) singled and Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, ON) followed with an RBI triple, but the Jays scored twice in the bottom of the frame to go ahead 5-2.
The Jays hit their first of two home runs on the afternoon in the third as part of a three-run inning to go up 8-2.
Brodie Harkness (Bowmanville, ON) took over for Horne in the bottom of the fourth and managed a scoreless frame before giving up a solo home run in the fifth.
The juniors looked poised to put some runs on the board in the sixth as they loaded the bases with nobody out, but after a pick-off and a walk reloaded the bases, a pop-out and fielder’s choice ended any hope.
The Jays put the game out of reach in the sixth with three runs on four hits and added another run for good measure in the seventh after two walks and an RBI single.
Jake Lumley managed an RBI single in the eighth to plate Canada’s third run of the game.
Nathan Borges (Brooklin, ON) entered the game in the seventh and threw two innings and gave-up one run on three hits and two walks, while striking out two batters.
Notes: The juniors will get another crack at the Blue Jays tomorrow in Dunedin with the first pitch coming at 1pm ET at the Bobby Mattick Complex…Travis Seabrooke (Peterborough, ON) is slated to start and throw three innings.
