The Junior National Team dropped the series opener 12–3 to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers at Credit Union Field at Eastwood in Niles, OH.
Elliot Lascelles (Toronto, ON) continued his strong showing at the MLB Draft League International Series, finishing 3-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored and an RBI. The Canadian infielder is now 11-for-27 with a 1.093 OPS in the International Series.
After Mahoning Valley built an early 5–0 lead, Canada broke through in the third inning. Sam Ellis (La Pêche, QC) reached base, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error to set the stage for Lascelles’ RBI single. Lascelles later stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and came all the way home on a second consecutive wild pitch to pull the Juniors within three.
The Scrappers added three runs in the third and four more in the sixth to extend their advantage through the middle innings.
Canada manufactured one final run in the eighth, sparked by a Lascelles triple to centre field. Kadyn Armitage (Surrey, BC) brought him home with a sacrifice fly.
On the mound, Noah Powell (Toronto, ON) and Ramsey Chung (Mississauga, ON) each delivered a scoreless inning of relief. Powell struck out one in a clean seventh, while Chung worked around no trouble in the eighth, picking up a strikeout of his own.
The Junior National Team will look to bounce back in Game 2 of the final three-game set of the MLB Draft League International Series.
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(N.Powell, S.Ellis, E.Lascelles)
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