MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com-ST. LOUIS, MO- The best and brightest young stars through all levels of the minor leagues donned their respective uniforms for the annual Futures Game Sunday afternoon at Busch Stadium in St. Louis with the World Squad defeating their U.S. opponents 7-5 in a rain-shortened, seven-inning affair. The Washington Nationals' lone representative, P-Nats' shortstop Danny Espinosa, made his mark on the game, contributing many sparkling plays at shortstop and playing in all seven innings of the contest. Espinosa corralled four ground balls in the game, showing off his outstanding throwing arm on many occasions.

At the plate, Espinosa went 0-for-3, but drew a walk with two outs in the seventh inning to extend a potential final-inning U.S. rally.

The game was delayed for over four hours after the World team scored two runs in the top of the first inning, as a severe thunderstorm settled over the St. Louis area, postponing play before the U.S. team even had a chance to bat.

When play resumed, the World took a 3-0 lead in the third inning, only to have that lead cut to 3-2 in the bottom of the frame. Eric Young, Jr. launched a solo home run to lead off the inning, and former Lynchburg Hillcat Pedro Alvarez would knock an RBI single to right to plate Desmond Jennings with the second U.S. run.

The American squad took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when Jason Castro knocked a three-run home run to right field off Luis Perez.

The lead looked safe for the U.S. team until the top of the seventh and final inning when the World stormed back to take the lead.

Rene Tosoni had the big hit to put the World ahead for good when he doubled down the right field line to score Alcides Escobar to give the World a 6-5 lead. They would tack on another to make it 7-5.

The U.S. would mount a comeback, putting a runner on base with two outs. Espinosa then worked a six-pitch at-bat which led to a walk off J.C. Sulbaran of the Netherlands Antilles. Jemile Weeks then boomed a high fly ball to dead center field, but the ball landed in the glove of the outfielder to end the ballgame.

The Carolina League had quite a showing in a game which featured the top prospects in all of baseball. Alvarez went 1-for-2 with an RBI, and Jason Heyward, formerly of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, knocked a single as well.
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On the mound, former Frederick Key Brian Matusz tossed an inning, giving up a run, Wilmington Blue Rock starter Danny Duffy threw 2/3 of an inning allowing a lone base hit, and Casey Kelly of the Salem Red Sox tossed a flawless sixth frame.

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