Atkinson, Orr on steady diet of hits in tie with Venezuela
Peter Orr continued his hot hitting in a 5-5 Canada tie with Venezuela leading into the first Premier 12 tourney. Photo: Adam Morissette.
SNT: Canada ties Venezuela in exhibition finale
Nov. 7th, 2015
By Adam Morissette
Baseball Canada
DOULIU, Taiwan- Canada and Venezuela played to a 5-5 tie as both clubs played their final tune-up game before the start of the inaugural WBSC Premer12 tournament that begins tomorrow when Japan takes on Korea in Japan.
Canada used five pitchers and for the second consecutive game received a 3-for-5 performance at the plate from Pete Orr (Newmarket, Ont.), while Senior National Team newcomer Justin Atkinson (Surrey, BC) collected two hits and drove in a pair of runs.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Canada 5 Venezuela 5
Location: Dou-Liou Baseball Stadium – Douliu, Taiwan
Weather: 28C, Cloudy
Canada Starting Lineup:
1. Jamieson SS
2. Orr 3B
3. O’Neill LF
4. Lennerton 1B
5. Atkinson DH
6. Tosoni RF
7. Houle C
8. Morgan CF
9. Stromsmoe 2B
Starting Pitcher: RHP Shawn Hill
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Canada wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as they pushed across two runs in the bottom half of the first inning. Sean Jamieson (Kitchener, Ont.) led off with a walk and moved to third when Pete Orr singled to right to put runners on the corners. After Orr stole second base, Jamieson tagged and scored from third when Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) lifted a fly ball to right field before Rene Tosoni (Port Coquitlam, BC) singled through the right side to cash in Orr.
- Venezuela used a lead off double and a wild pitch to get a runner on third in the top of the second who later scored on a single to centre with two out in the inning.
- With reliever Jared Mortensen (Abbotsford, BC) on the mound, Venezuela used three consecutive two out hits, including and RBI double from former big leaguer Juan Rivera and a run scoring single, to take a 3-2 lead.
- Canada drew even in the bottom of the inning as Orr came up clutch as he lined a single to centre that brought in Dustin Houle (Penticton, BC), who had been hit by a pitch, from third base.
- Canada retook the lead in the fifth when O’Neill scored when Atkinson looped a single into centerfield. O’Neill reached when he singled to right before stealing second and moving to third when the catchers throw sailed into the outfield.
- The lead didn’t last long as Rivera came back to haunt Mortensen in the sixth as he launched a two run homer over the wall in left field. Mortensen recorded two quick outs after a lead off single prior to the blow from Rivera.
- Atkinson came up clutch for Canada in the seventh as he singled to centre with two out in the inning to score Tyler O’Neill with the tying run. O’Neill had reached on a fielder’s choice and moved to second on a throwing error committed on the play. He then tagged and advanced to third when Jordan Lennerton (Langley, BC) flied out to centre.
CANADA HIGHLIGHTS
- Canadian starter Shawn Hill (Georgetown, Ont.) was solid in three innings of work as he turned in perfect frames in the first and third and just missed getting out of trouble in the second as a lead off double scored on a bloop single to centre with two out in the inning.
- Reliever Scott Richmond (Vancouver, BC) struck out two batters in the seventh and left a runner on third base in the process. Catcher Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC) nabbed a runner at second on an attempted steal after an error saw the lead off batter reach first base.
- Andrew Albers (North Battleford, SKask. turned in a perfect inning in the eighth as he got two groundouts and a pop out to first after Canada tied the score in the seventh.
- Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, Que.) worked a scoreless inning in the ninth getting a pair of fly-outs to leave a runner on first who was hit by a pitch.
- Orr continues to rake for Canada as he turned in a 3-for-5 day at the plate with an RBI and stolen base for good measure after going 3-for-5 yesterday with four RBIs in a win over Mexico.
- Outfielder Tosoni had two singles and drove in one run before he came out of the game in the sixth inning
TEAM LEADERS
Hits: 3, Orr (3/5); 2, Atkinson (2/4), Tosoni (2/3); 1, O’Neill (1/4)
Runs: 2, O’Neill; 1, Jamieson, Orr, Houle
RBIs: 2, Atkinson; 1, Orr, O’Neill, Tosoni
Strikeouts: 2, Richmond
UP NEXT
Team Canada will hold workouts on Nov. 8-9 and participate in Premier 12 opening ceremonies on the 9th … Canada’s Premier 12 schedule kicks off on Nov. 10th against Cuba (6:30pm CST/5:30am ET) at Intercontinental Stadium in Taichung … Fans in Canada can watch the game on Sportsnet ONE (5:30am ET with a replay at 3pm ET) … Fans not in the Sportsnet ONE viewing region can view the game at: http://wbsc.org/en/tournaments/2015-premier12/streaming.