Rene Tosoni of Canada and Cuba’s Dayan Viciedo hit consecutive RBI doubles to cap a four-run comeback that carried the World team past the US 7-5 on Sunday in a soggy Futures Game.
Baseball’s annual showcase for top minor league talent was interrupted for more than 4 hours in the first inning by a heavy storm that rolled through Busch Stadium, darkening skies and briefly cloaking the famous Gateway Arch beyond center field.
Because of the delay, the game was shortened to seven innings.
PHOTO: AFP
When play resumed, Colorado’s Eric Young hit a solo homer and Houston’s Jason Castro added a three-run shot that gave the US a 5-3 lead going into the seventh. But with three outs remaining, the World team rallied against losing pitcher Trevor Reckling of the Los Angeles Angels.
Milwaukee’s Brett Lawrie of Canada led off with a double and went to third on an infield single by Dominican Starlin Castro of the Chicago Cubs. Lawrie scored on a wild pitch that sent Castro to second, and one out later Oakland second baseman Jemile Weeks made a costly mistake.
Milwaukee’s Alcides Escobar of Venezuela hit a humpback liner up the middle that was grabbed by Weeks on one hop behind second. With no chance to make a balanced throw, Weeks tried to flip the ball with his glove to shortstop Danny Espinosa — an ill-advised attempt.
The toss went awry and the ball trickled away on the infield, allowing Castro to score the tying run.
Tosoni, a Minnesota Twins outfield prospect, came up as a pinch hitter to face Pittsburgh right-hander Brad Lincoln. Tosoni hit a hard one-hopper that deflected off first baseman Chris Carter and down the right-field line for a go-ahead double.
Viciedo, playing third base in the Chicago White Sox system, followed with a well-struck double to right that made it 7-5.
Astros reliever Lo Chia-jen of Taiwan worked a hitless inning for the win and Cincinnati’s J.C. Sulbaran got three outs for a save.
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