Late rally lifts World team to 7-5 win over United States in rain-delayed Futures Game

Late rally lifts World team to rainy Futures win

ST. LOUIS — Rene Tosoni stayed dry during a rain delay that held up the Futures Game for hours.

By the end of the day, he was an MVP coated in shaving cream.

Tosoni and Dayan Viciedo hit consecutive RBI doubles to cap a four-run comeback that carried the World team past the United States 7-5 on Sunday in a soggy start to All-Star festivities at Busch Stadium.

“You talk about why this is such a great baseball town and as you saw, even with a 4-hour rain delay, the majority of the people stayed,” said Cardinals Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, who managed the U.S. squad. “It’s a very special place.”

Baseball’s annual showcase for top minor league talent was interrupted for 4 hours, 9 minutes in the first inning by a heavy storm that rolled through the ballpark, darkening skies and briefly cloaking the famous Gateway Arch beyond center field.

Because of the delay, the game was shortened to seven innings.

When play finally resumed, Colorado’s Eric Young hit a solo homer and Houston’s Jason Castro a three-run shot that gave the U.S. 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 led off with a double and later scored on Reckling’s wild pitch. With a runner on second, Alcides Escobar of the Brewers hit a humpback liner up the middle for an infield single that was grabbed by Oakland second baseman Jemile Weeks on one hop.

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 for an error, allowing the tying run to score.

“It’s a play we work on in the A’s organization,” Weeks said. “I think maybe I might have tossed it too hard.”

Tosoni, a Minnesota Twins outfield prospect from Canada, came up as a pinch hitter to face Pittsburgh right-hander Brad Lincoln. Tosoni hit a hard one-hopper that deflected off Athletics first baseman Chris Carter and down the right-field line for a go-ahead double.

“I’m usually an everyday player. It’s been a while since I got to pinch hit,” Tosoni said.

Viciedo, a Cuban defector playing third base in the Chicago White Sox system, followed with a well-struck double to right that made it 7-5.

“I felt overwhelmed by the moment. It was a huge hit. I will always treasure this occasion,” Viciedo said. “I know my family and friends were watching in Cuba and I know I gave them joy.”

Astros reliever Chia-Jen Lo worked a hitless inning for the win and Cincinnati’s J.C. Sulbaran got the save. With two on, Weeks flied out to deep center for the final out.

With one swing, Tosoni took home an MVP award previously won by Alfonso Soriano, Jose Reyes, Grady Sizemore and Aaron Hill. The World team won its third straight Futures Game, becoming the first squad to do so in the event’s 11-year history.

Afterward, Tosoni was covered with shaving cream, courtesy of World teammate Luis Durango of the San Diego Padres.

“I wanted to get in, especially coming all the way over here,” Tosoni said.

His bat is headed to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Looking to break up the boredom during the long delay, Lincoln played frisbee in the outfield with fellow U.S. pitchers Kyle Drabek and Mat Latos.

Drabek, a touted Philadelphia prospect and the son of 1990 NL Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek, pitched a perfect second inning.

Other players had big league family ties, too. Young’s father is former infielder Eric Young. Weeks’ brother is Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks.

More than 50 Futures Game alumni have developed into major league All-Stars.

Boston’s Junichi Tazawa had been slated to start for the World team but was scratched after the delay.

The right-hander had finished warming up before the downpour, so Red Sox assistant general manager Jed Hoyer, who was at the ballpark, called World team manager Jose Oquendo and requested that Tazawa not pitch.

“I’m very disappointed,” Tazawa said through a translator.

Texas righty Neftali Feliz got the ball instead and was impressive, striking out two in one scoreless inning.