FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
Phoenix, Ariz. – For the first time during the trials the bats were silenced by the pitching and defense for both teams as the Red team came from behind to win 2-1 and even the series at the 18U National Team Trials at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The Blue team scored first in the top of the second inning on starter Trevor Bauer. Bauer began the second with a strikeout but a passed ball by catcher Marlon Mitchell on strike three allowed Colton Cain to reach first. This misplay then led to an Austin Maddox RBI triple to right centerfield to give the blue team a 1-0 lead.
The Red team tried to respond as Matt Helm reached on a David Nick error but a heads up play by centerfielder Andrew Aplin throwing out Helm at first after catching a deep fly ball by Jiovanni Mier ended the inning.
From this point on the defense and pitching was outstanding.
With Jacob Marisnick waiting on third base and Nolan Fontana on first in the top of the fourth inning, the red-team defense shone as Aplin lined out to second baseman Jiovanni Mier who then threw out Fontana for the inning ending double play.
The Red team looked to threaten as they jumped on new pitcher Chad James early as he surrendered a walk to Ryan Curl and a single to Bobby Borchering with one out. But a fielder’s choice got Curl out at third and a routine ground ball to third baseman Harold Martinez ended the Red team’s hopes of scoring their first run of the game.
Blue team left fielder Mike Trout hit a triple to the right-centerfield wall to start out the seventh and a walk to Nolan Fontana then put runners on the corners for Andrew Aplin with no outs. But the defense came through again. Marlon Mitchell threw a laser to catch Fontana stealing second. Jonathan Meyer then struck and Aplin was also caught stealing to end the threat.
Hoping to break through a tough Red team defense, the Blue team tried to force new pitcher Nick Franklin into a tough spot to begin the eighth. A single to Harold Martinez and a walk to Colton Cain put pressure on the new pitcher but catcher Max Stassi struck out giving Franklin some confidence. Harold Martinez was then thrown out at third on the double steal and Jacob Marisnick grounded out to the third baseman to again keep Blue team insurance runs off the board.
The Red team got on the board finally in the bottom of the eighth inning on Blue team reliever Austin Maddox. Ryan Curl legged out an infield single to put a runner on in the bottom of the eighth. After advancing on a stolen base to put himself in scoring position a Bobby Borchering walk put two runners on with one out. Both runners advanced on a Stassi passed ball and Jeff Malm scored the game-winning single to right field to bring in both runners taking with for the score 2-1.
In a game that saw 20 strikeouts, Red team reliever Franklin then sealed the win for the Red team as he forced two pop flies and a ground out to send the Blue team packing and evening the series at two apiece. Austin Maddox picked up the loss for the Blue team as he gave up two runs on two hits.
Game five of the Trials will take place Wednesday at 11:00am (P.S.T) in which the final 18-man roster will be announced following the game.
