Canada’s National Junior Team prospects were on the wrong side of a great pitching performance, Saturday, dropping a 6-3 decision to the Minnesota Twins in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic.
Twins pitchers allowed only two hits en route to dropping Canada’s juniors to 1-2 on their 2006 Dominican Tour.
The Canadians, though, were gritty and persistent. After Minnesota took a 4-0 lead into the sixth inning, the scrappy Canadians found ways to get to the Twins. Matt McCarney (Kanata, Ont.) drew a walk to lead-off the inning. Minnesota then misplayed a bunt by David Narodowski (Vancouver, B.C.) and walked Jordan Wideman (Mississauga, Ont.) to load the bases. A fielder choice allowed McCarney to put Canada on the board and Narodowski alertly broke for home on a wild pitch.
Without a single hit, Canada had scored two runs and cut the lead in half, 4-2.
With the score 5-2 in the eighth, Canada once again loaded the bases behind a single from Ricky Alvernaz (White Rock, B.C.) a fielder’s choice to McCarney and a walk to Jeff Skelhorne-Gross (Mississauga, Ont.). Alvernaz was able to score on another wild pitch to, once again, cut the lead to two, but Canada would get no closer. The Twins added another insurance marker in the eighth to make it 6-3.
Canada’s pitching staff did their best to keep its team close.
Starter Pierre Miville-Deschesne (Candiac, Qué.) threw three innings allowing three hits, one earned run and striking out four. Colin Buckborough (Niagara Falls, Ont.) gave up one run behind one hit, five walks, one wild pitch and a strikeout. David Francis (Mississauga, Ont.) shut the Twins out in one inning of work, striking out two batters while giving up one hit.
Most of the damage came off of Justin Robinson (Langley, B.C.) who threw three innings from the fourth to the sixth. Robinson gave up four earned runs behind 7 hits, 0 walks and 1 strikeout.
Brett Lawrie (Langley, B.C.) and Alvernaz were the only Canadians to collect hits. Kyle Gilligan (Toronto, Ont.), who also had a stolen base and an RBI, Shayne Willson (Surrey, B.C.), McCarney, Wideman and Skelhorne-Gross all drew walks. Alvernaz, McCarney and Narodowski were the run scorers.
Canada’s next game comes against the Anaheim Angels, Sunday, in San Pedro de Macoris, D.R. Game time is scheduled for 11 a.m. EST.
Canada’s schedule
May 25 – Canada 9 Seattle 6
May 26 – Canada 3 Seattle 8
May 27 – Canada 3 Minnesota 6
May 28 – Canada vs. Anaheim Angels; 11 a.m. EST - San Pedro de Macoris, D.R.
May 29 – Canada vs. Cleveland Indians; 11 a.m. EST - Boca Chica, D.R.
May 30 – Canada vs. Toronto Blue Jays; 11 a.m. EST - Hato Mayor, D.R.
May 31 – Canada vs. Philadelphia Phillies; 11 a.m. EST - Guanuma, D.R.
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