Boulders Hold off Tornadoes' Late Rally, Win 8-5
August 28, 2012 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
Mike Gedman was a triple short of hitting for the cycle, but the Rockland Boulders held off a late Worcester rally to beat the Tornadoes 8-5 on Tuesday night in the second to last home game of the 2012 season.
Gedman scored the first Tornadoes run after leading the second inning off with a double. Chris Torres knocked him home with a slow-rolling single just inside the first base bag to give Worcester its only lead of the night, a 1-0 advantage that was enough for the victory in game two of Monday's doubleheader.
Torres also knocked the second Worcester run in with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, but it was already 6-2 Boulders at that point.
Rockland tied the game in the top of the third inning when Chris Valencia's ground out scored Cole Kraft from third. Kraft led the frame off with a double. He was one of four Boulders batters to reach base leading off an inning. He, Ryan Mollica (fifth inning home run), Qualon Millender (seventh inning walk) and Jon Smith (eighth inning double) all scored when starting their respective innings at the plate.
The last three Tornadoes runs came in on Gedman's homer, a bomb over the right field fence with no outs and both Ryan Brockett and Brendon Kelliher on in front of him. The blast chased Rockland starting pitcher Jon Velasquez from the game.
Velasquez gave up five runs (all earned) in his seven-plus innings of work, striking out six Tornadoes, walking two and allowing eight hits.
MacKenzie King pitched just two-thirds of an inning in relief, but allowed no runs. He put three batters on for Garrett Johnson, who threw one pitch in his second outing in as many days. He induced a ground out of Jerod Edmondson, who represented the go-ahead run at the plate for Worcester that frame. The Tornadoes started the inning with a six-run deficit.
Adrian Martin notched his second save in as many nights against the home team, giving up an infield single to Gedman, but not allowing any other base runners.
Eric Katzman was dealt the defeat in his first start with the Tornadoes, lasting 5.2 frames. He struck out three hitters, walked three and gave up five runs (all earned) on six hits.
Mollica's solo homer in the fifth gave the Boulders the lead for good, and the visitors added three more the next inning off of the third southpaw starter they have faced in three games.
Sean Keeler and Bryan Leigh (two total runs) each gave up one earned run in their respective outings, with Matt McDonald pitching a perfect ninth inning.
The final Tornadoes home game in 2012 is scheduled for Wednesday at 7:05pm, with the gates opening at 6:00. Pre-game coverage begins at 6:50 on USTREAM.tv.
Canadian American League Stories from August 28, 2012
- Down 9-2, Newark Fights Back For 11-9 Win - New Jersey Jackals
- Boulders Hold off Tornadoes' Late Rally, Win 8-5 - Worcester Tornadoes
- Can-Am League Game Recaps - Can-Am
- Can-Am League Game Recaps - Can-Am
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