Bears Avoid Sweep, Win 8-4
June 24, 2012 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
The Worcester Tornadoes had an opportunity to bring out the brooms for the first time in 2012 coming into Sunday's game against the Newark Bears, but the New Jersey team was able to avoid the sweep, winning 8-4 in the afternoon game.
Manager Ken Oberkfell can thank his leftfielder Burt Reynolds for helping the Bears win their 12th game of the season. Reynolds had four of the eight RBI, as he hit a sacrifice fly, an 2-run home run, and an RBI single.
Tornadoes lefty Kyle Regnault got tagged with the loss, giving up four runs and only recording two outs in his outing. Regnault now has five losses on the season, two of which have come against his Newark rivals.
Greg Lane got the win for the Newark Bears after blowing a save in the bottom of the seventh. Lane gave up the game tying home run to Johnny Welch, but a four-run eighth by his team helped him collect his first win of 2012.
The Bears scored first in the top of the first inning. Daryle Ward hit a rocket off Tornadoes starter Kevin Cooper over the right field wall for the second consecutive game to put the Bears up 1-0.
The Tornadoes were able to answer right back, however. Alex Nunez led off the bottom of the first with a single. Brandon Pinckney allowed Nunez to score after Pinckney hit a double that rolled all the way to the wall. Pinckney later scored himself after Johnny Welch hit an RBI single to give the Tornadoes a 2-1 lead.
That wasn't enough to stop the Bears from tying the game, as Burt Reynolds collected his first RBI on a sacrifice fly to centerfielder Jerod Edmondson, which allowed Juan Martinez to score from third base.
Reynolds later hit his two run home run in the top of the four. He took a Kevin Cooper fastball over the St. Vincent Hospital sign in left-center field, which scored Billy Alvino from first base.
The Bears committed a costly error to bring the Tornadoes back within a run in the sixth inning. Cameron Monger forced Third Baseman Alex Bardeguez to make an errant throw over to Daryle Ward at first. That allowed Brandon Kelliher to make it a one-run ballgame after six, with the Bears leading 4-3.
Johnny Welch then came up big once again for the Tornadoes at home. He took a Greg Lane fastball way over the center field fence for a solo home run, his eighth at home in 2012, to tie the ballgame at four a piece.
Kyle Regnault then replaced Kevin Cooper in the top of the eighth, and struggled to keep the ball out of dangerous spots in the outfield. Although he threw 14 of his 23 pitches for strikes, he gave up six hits and four runs in the eighth. Alex Bardeguez, Daryle Ward, Bryce Lane, and Dan Coury all scored as the Bears brought ten hitters to the plate.
Oberkfell then called on his closer in, Jorge Vasquez, in a non-save situation to pitch the eighth and the ninth. Vasquez struck out four and only allowed one baserunner in his one inning of work.
The Tornadoes fell to 13-23 on the season going into interleague play, but remained in fourth place in the Can-Am standings. The Bears on the otherhand improve to 12-24 on the season, one game behind the "Ënadoes for last place.
The Worcester Tornadoes will begin their second series on this homestand tomorrow, when they take on the Grand Prarie AirHogs of the American Association at 7:05. Phil Negus is due to get the start for the Worcester team, as he is looking for his first win of 2012.
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Canadian American League Stories from June 24, 2012
- Can-Am League Game Recaps - Can-Am
- Bears Avoid Sweep, Win 8-4 - Worcester Tornadoes
- AirHogs Defeat Jackals in Finale - New Jersey Jackals
- Boulders Erupt for 18 Runs; Take Last Game of Ten-Game Homestand - New York Boulders
- Tornadoes Out-Slug Bears 12-11 - Worcester Tornadoes
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