Five-Run 9th Propels Tornadoes to Victory
Published on August 31, 2008 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
Ottawa, Ontario -- Brett Thaler snapped a scoreless tie with an RBI single in the 9th inning that sparked a five-run rally, as the Worcester Tornadoes blanked the Ottawa Rapidz, 5-0, at Rapidz Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The game featured a terrific pitchers duel between Worcester righthander Junior Guerrero and Ottawa lefty Mike Kusiewicz. Guerrero worked out of several jams to toss 6 scoreless innings, while Kusiewicz took a no-hitter into the 6th inning, surrendering just 3 singles in 8 shutout frames. Anthony Sullivan (3-1) pitched scoreless innings in the 7th and 8th, as the game remained 0-0 into the top of the 9th. Rapidz Closer Cardoza Tucker (0-4) struck out B.J. Weed to begin the inning, but then gave up a bloop single to right-center off the bat of Chris Colabello, and Josh Farkes followed with a sharp single to left. Thaler, who came on defensively for Alex Trezza in the bottom of the 7th, bounced a seeing-eye base hit through the hole on the right side, scoring Justin Edwards (who had pinch-run for Colabello) with the game's first run. It was Thaler's second professional hit and RBI. That opened the floodgates, as Alex Pena doubled home Farkes, then both Thaler and Pena scored on a two-out RBI single to center by Mike MacMillan. MacMillan stole second, moved to third base on a throwing error by Catcher Kyle Geiger, then came home on a Jeff LaHair RBI single to cap the scoring. Eddie Pena finished off Ottawa with a perfect 9th inning to seal the victory.
Sullivan (3-1) picked up the win and Tucker (0-4) took the loss. Francisco Caraballo extended his hitting streak to 13 straight games, but Scott Grimes' hitting streak ended at 12 games. The shutout victory was the 5th of the season for Worcester, tied for the second-most in the league. The Tornadoes will be playing the Sussex Skyhawks in the first round of the playoffs, beginning Wednesday night, September 3rd. Whether the Tornadoes open the playoffs at home as the #3 seed or begin the postseason at Sussex as the #2 seed is still yet to be determined. With the victory, the Tornadoes have won the season series with Ottawa. Worcester finishes 2008 having won the head-to-head matchup with every Can-Am League opponent but New Jersey. The Tornadoes will try to close out the 2008 regular season on a winning note (and finish up the '08 campaign at a season-best 12 games over .500) when they play the series finale in Ottawa against the Rapidz on Monday afternoon. Righty Justin Edwards will make the spot start for Worcester and he will be opposed by Ottawa lefthander Fraser Robinson. First pitch is set for 1:05pm.
Canadian American League Stories from August 31, 2008
- Can-Am League Recap - Can-Am
- Pride Overpowered by Quebec; 11-0 - American Defenders of New Hampshire
- Rios launches walk-off blast in Rox victory - Brockton Rox
- Worcester Tornadoes vs Ottawa Rapidz Recap - Ottawa Voyageurs
- Five-Run 9th Propels Tornadoes to Victory - Worcester Tornadoes
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