CARY, N.C. — The Canadian National Team exploded for seven runs in the second inning to post a 12-1 win in seven innings over the USA Collegiate National Team, on a steamy Tuesday afternoon, in day two of the Americas Baseball Festival at USA Baseball’s National Training Complex.
Team USA (9-7) fell behind on the strength of a leadoff homer from Tyson Gillies to open the game in the first inning. Team USA answered on a two-out, two-strike homer from Corey Ray (Louisville) but Canada plated six runs on five hits and three walks in the second inning to take a commanding lead.
Team USA starter Logan Shore (2-1) suffered the loss, allowing five hits and eight runs in one inning, issuing three walks and striking out two. He had the biscuit after the first eight hitters in the second inning reached base safely, with Team USA turning to Zack Burdi (Louisville) on in relief. Burdi allowed a RBI double but settled in to escape the jam. Burdi worked three innings, allowing three hits and two runs.
In the fifth inning, Team USA turned to righty Daulton Jefferies (California). Jefferies worked three innings, allowing two hits and two runs, walking one and striking out three.
At the plate, Team USA was sparked in the first inning by the homer from Ray, his first of the tour.
Team USA will conclude its summer tour on Wednesday with a 10 a.m. EDT first pitch with the U.S. Pan-American Men’s Baseball Team in Cary, N.C.
Canada opened the scoring in the first inning, as Tyson Gillies ripped a 1-0 offering over the wall in right-centerfield for his first homer of the summer.
In the bottom of the first, Ray turned on a 1-2 pitch and belted it over the rightfield fence for his first homer of the summer.
Canada regained the lead with a rally in the second inning, starting with walks to Tyler O’Neill and Tim Smith. Sean Jamieson then dropped a single into shallow centerfield to load the bases for Kellin Dglan. Deglan then dropped a single into shallow rightfield, scoring O’Neill. Brock Kjeldgaard followed with a two-RBI single into centerfield. Skyler Stromsmoe then drew a walk to load the bases for Gillies. Gillies singled up the middle to score two and chase Shore. Pete Orr then doubled down the rightfield line, scoring Stromsmoe. Jordan Lennerton grounded out to force in the eighth run of the inning.
In the third inning, Smith was hit by a pitch and stole second base. After a grounder moved Smith to third, Deglan grounded out to score Smith for ak 9-1 lead.
Gillies tripled in the fourth inning, scoring on a sacrifice fly to stretch the lead to 10-1.
Deglan ripped a two-run homer with two outs in the fifth inning to stretch its lead to 12-1.
Canada (1-1) starter Jared Mortensen (1-0) worked a pre-determined four innings, allowing one hit and one run, not issuing a walk and striking out two.
GAME NOTES: Logan Shore (Florida) made his first start of the summer … Corey Ray (Louisville) belted his first home run of the summer … Zack Burdi (Louisville) appeared in his seventh game of the summer … Daulton Jefferies (California) appeared in his fourth game of the year … Team USA turned its eighth double play of the summer.
