April 27, 2018

JNT EXTENDED: Juniors blanked by Astros

By Adam Morissette

Box Score

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida – The scoreboard read 5-0 for the Houston Astros prospects but this game was a lot closer than it appeared with all of the scoring coming in one inning.

The Astros broke a scoreless tie with a five-run sixth and held the Junior National Team off the scoreboard to earn a shutout victory.

Unfortunately for Junior National Team reliever Carter Morris (Kelowna, B.C.), all of the runs were charged to his stat line as the Astros took advantage of three walks and used four hits to score the five runs.

SCORING

- With one down in the sixth, a double and walk put two runners on for the Astros who used a single to right to bring in the first run of the ballgame. An ensuing walk and single made it 2-0 before a fielder’s choice put the Astros in front by three. With two out, a two-run single to left capped the scoring and gave the Astros a commanding five-run lead.

QUICK HITS

- A pair of bright spots in the Junior National Team offence was Cesar Valero (Calgary, Alta.) and Jayden Knight (Langley, B.C.) who each collected two hits on the afternoon. Valero doubled and singled while Knight collected two singles. Kendall Keller (Pilot Butte, Sask.) also had a hit.

-Starter Keegan Pulford-Thorpe (Newmarket, Ont.) turned in a nice performance on the mound surrendering just one hit and a walk while fanning a pair over three innings.

-Pulford-Thorpe was followed by Declan Dutton (North Vancouver, B.C.) who kept the Astros off track for two innings allowing three walks to go along with two strikeouts. 

-Griffin Hassall (Newmarket, Ont.) went two scoreless and had one strikeout.

UP NEXT

The Junior National Team will close out the extended spring training camp tomorrow with an inter-squad game beginning at Noon E.T...The program will resume next month with the annual Dominican Summer League tour from May 18-26.