JNT Spring Training: Juniors fall 8-3 to Pirates
Ontario Blue Jays infielder Myles Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) mans his position for the Junior National Team in their 8-3 loss to a team of Pittsburgh Pirates prospects on Friday. Photo: Baseball Canada
April 21, 2023
Baseball Canada
Bradenton, Fla. - The Junior National Team lost 8-3 to a Pittsburgh Pirates Extended squad on Friday at Pirate City in Brandenton, Fla.
A couple of defensive miscues propelled the Pirates to an early 5-0 lead, but the Juniors battled back in the middle innings, scoring runs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh frames.
Junior National Team starter Jérémy Pilon (Valleyfield, Que.) struggled early but was able to settle down and limit the damage in his 2 1/3 innings of work. Makaio Cisneros (Whitby, Ont.) came on in relief in the fourth and cruised through the middle innings, allowing a pair of hits and striking out one in three innings.
Marek Lalonde (Valleyfield, Que.) and Brendan Lawson (North York, Ont.) turned a big double play behind Cisneros to end the fourth inning.
Benito Bonilla (Halifax, N.S.) pitched the final two innings for the Juniors. The big right-hander limited the Pirates to a pair of hits and a walk while striking out a batter.
The Juniors got on the board in the fifth inning after Deiten Lachance (Sherbrooke, Que.) singled and eventually scored on an error by the Pirates right fielder. In the sixth inning, Simon Baker (Cochrane, Alta.) singled and made his way around the bases, collecting a stolen base and scoring after a pair of wild pitches. Lalonde drove in the third and final run for the Juniors after Brayden Ricketts (Brampton, Ont.) had walked in the top of the seventh inning.