Guerra, DR- The Kansas City Royals Dominican prospects used a four run eighth inning to take an 8-6 lead and held on for the victory over the Junior National Team as the Dominican Summer League Camp continued.
The Royals opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with two outs when an infield single brought a runner home from third base. JNT starter Jake Marks (Brights Grove, ON) got two, quick fly-ball outs to open the inning but allowed a double and walk before unleashing a wild pitch to advance the runners which set the table for the run scoring single.
The juniors stormed back with two runs in the top of the 2nd as Gareth Morgan (Toronto, ON) walked and Brett Siddall (Windsor, ON) followed with a double down the left field line to put runners on second and third with none out. Morgan scampered home to tie the score on a wild pitch and Siddall scored from third when Owen Spiwak (Mississauga, ON) hit a RBI ground out to the right side of the infield.
The Royals retook the lead in the bottom of the third with two runs jumping ahead 3-2. A double followed by a single scored one run and another double plated the go ahead run.
The see-saw battle continued in the fourth as the juniors struck for four runs in taking a 6-3 lead. Owen Spiwak came through with a single to right field that scored Gareth Morgan from third base with the first run of the frame. Morgan had led the inning off with a walk and Brett Siddall singled on a ball between the first and second baseman.
Mitchell Triolo (Scarborough, ON) got into the act lining a single up the middle to score Morgan and Bryan Saucedo (Toronto, ON) doubled to right to score Siddall and Triolo. The throw from right field went home and Saucedo slid in safely to third with some heads-up base running before being left on base.
Marks came back out for the bottom of the 5th and allowed a runner when he dropped a throw from Siddall at first base, while covering the bag on a ground ball. After a walk, Marks managed to get a 5-4-3 double-play, but gave up a run scoring double to the next batter which effectively ended his outing.
Marks threw 4 2/3 innings and gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits, two walks and struck out one before giving way to Logan Seifrit (Spruce Grove, AB) who managed to get a fly-out to left field to end the inning.
Seifrit kept the Royals in check until the eighth where the Royals took the lead for good. With one out a ball hit to left field was just out of the reach of Jamar Burnette (Toronto, ON) which stood for a double and Seifrit hit the next batter which gave the Royals some life.
Back to back singles tied the score which ended Seifrit’s afternoon as Michael Clouthier (Guelph, ON) came in from the bullpen.
Clouthier struggled with control early on as he walked the first batter he faced to load the bases before a sacrifice fly to right field gave the Royals the lead.
They would add another run on an error and shut the juniors down in the top of the 9th to seal the victory.
The juniors will travel down the road this afternoon to take on the Seattle Mariners Dominican prospects at 3pm ET…Dayton Dawe (London, ON) gets the start on the mound and the only way to stay up-to-date is by following Baseball Canada on Twitter: www.twitter.com/baseballcanada
