MINNEAPOLIS - An eighth-inning home run by Raynel Delgado (Miami Lakes, Fla.) lifted the Stripes squad to a come-from-behind 7-6 triumph over the Stars on the second day of the USA Baseball 18U National Team Trials on Sunday at Siebert Field on the campus of the University of Minnesota.
With the Stripes trailing by a run and a runner on first base in the top of the eighth, Delgado took a first-pitch fastball and deposited over the wall in right-center to give his squad the advantage.
His longball was the second of the day as teammate Nolan Gorman (Glendale, Ariz.) also launched a mammoth shot, his second in as many days, in the third.
That was one of two hits on the day for Gorman who leads all players at trials with five hits and five RBIs through the first two games. His home run on Sunday, which easily cleared the right-field wall and several large pieces of construction equipment, was part of a four-run frame for the Stripes.
The Stars actually bounced right back with a five-spot of their own in the home half of the inning, highlighted by a two-run double by Adrian Del Castillo (Miami, Fla.) and a two-RBI base hit by Rece Hinds (Niceville, Fla.).
Another tally in the fourth extended the Stars' lead to 7-5 but Stripes pitchers Joseph Menafee (Richmond, Texas) and Lenny Torres (Beacon, New York) combined to strike out 10 batters over the final 6.2 innings to set up Delgado's late heroics.
Monday's morning practice has been cancelled but the third game of the Stars and Stripes series remains scheduled for 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. ET at Siebert Field.
Game four will be played at the same time and place on Wednesday, Aug. 23 before the series finale at Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins, at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT on Aug. 24.
Continue to follow @USABaseball18U on Twitter and visit USABaseball.com for the most up-to-date news about the 18U National Team.
QUOTES
USA Baseball 18U National Team Manager Andy Stankiewicz
(On the second day of trials)
"What we saw today was a little bit of what you normally see in some of these showcases where guys on the mound are good for an inning. They are used to that environment, coming in and letting it fly and being done. We have to get our guys who could be possible starters to understand that it can't be one or two innings. You have to give us five, six, seven innings. That is part of the training in mentality because the stuff is there. Everyone has really good arm strength, command of their fastball, and good offspeed pitches. We have three more games to try and figure it out and, at the same time, to get guys who we think might be possible starters ready to pitch in a tournament. Not an easy task but a fun one."
(On what he saw in game two)
"I don't think our defense today was as sharp in the infield. We saw some nice plays in the outfield. Alek Thomas made a nice assist to home and a nice grab up against the wall. It is all there, it is just a matter of bringing it all back together. We gave up a couple of big innings early today which we didn't do yesterday. It was nice to see them settle in a little and put some zeroes up at the end but if we can learn to eliminate those fours and fives, obviously, we will be a better team."
(On pushing the players hard the first two days)
"You could tell that it has been a long summer for them. These guys have been running all over the country since the summer started so tomorrow we are going to back off a little bit. As a staff we recognized they are a little out of gas so we are going back off and not do a morning workout tomorrow. We'll just come back, take batting practice, and play a game with the hope that it will provide a little energy, a little spark. That is what we need to see. It is a grind. It is a tough game and we need to find the guys who can grind through this and be ready to play when we get up to Canada."
Stripes IF Raynel Delgado
(On competing for a spot on the national team)
"This is the best 40 players in the nation so you are expecting the best-of-the-best coming in. These past few days have been incredible. The pitchers are incredible, the hitters are incredible, there are just great players all around. The coaching staff is great and I'm just trying to learn as much as I can every day."
(On his game-winning home run)
"Mike Vasil is a really good pitcher. I was looking for a fastball in and I was just lucky enough to get it and put a good swing on it. It felt pretty good."