Boca Chica, DR- The Minnesota Twins Dominican prospects broke open a 4-4 tie with four runs in the bottom of the seventh and went onto a 10-5 victory over the Junior National Team in the first game of the Dominican Summer League.
Pitcher Daniel Marquez (Cambridge, ON) issued a lead-off walk that came around to score on a passed ball and an RBI single gave the Twins a two-run lead with one out in the inning.
After a passed ball, another run scored on a wild pitch and the fourth run of the inning scored on an errant throw to first base in an attempted pick-off.
The juniors had opened the scoring in the top of the first as Jake Lumley (Windsor, ON) singled, stole second and scored on a single up the middle from Josh Naylor (Mississauga, ON).
The Twins got the run back in the home half of the first on an RBI double off of starter Dylan Brooks (Dorchester, ON).
With runners on first and second and nobody out, Brooks induced a pop-out and was the beneficiary of a tremendous play by second baseman Chris Thibedeau (Dartmouth, NS) who made a diving catch on a line drive and doubled-off the runner at first base.
After the Twins recorded two quick outs in the top of the second, Owen Spiwak (Mississauga, ON) singled and Thibedeau walked which set the table for a Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, ON) double over the left fielders head to cash in both runs.
Brooks allowed a run in the bottom of the second before retiring five Twins in a row coming on two pop-outs, two ground-outs and strikeout.
Brooks looked to get out of the fourth inning but a two-out, two-run double gave the Twins a 4-3 lead after four innings.
Nathan Borges (Brooklin, ON) came on for the fifth and was efficient in sitting down three batters in a row which allowed the juniors to tie the score in the top of the sixth on a Gareth Morgan (Toronto, ON) RBI groundout.
Morgan’s groundout scored Jake Lumley who reached on an error and ended up on third base after a Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) double down the left field line.
Borges worked out of a one-out jam in the sixth as Jake Lumley threw a runner out at home on a groundball to third and a fielder’s choice ended the inning to keep the score tied.
Borges allowed only one hit, while striking out two batters in two innings of work.
After the Twins took the lead in the seventh, Josh Naylor got his third hit and second RBI single of the game to make the score 8-5, but the Twins added runs on a passed ball and RBI single to take a commanding five run lead.
Notes: The juniors will travel to San Pedro de Macoris tomorrow for a 10:30am game against the Toronto Blue Jays before heading down the road to take on the Milwaukee Brewers in the afternoon…Travis Seabrooke (Peterborough, ON) is scheduled to start against the Jays, while Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, ON) will start against the Brewers…The only way to keep up-to-date with the action is by following Baseball Canada Games on Twitter (www.twitter.com/Team_C_Updates).
