Grimes' long ball propels Tornadoes
August 19, 2008 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
WORCESTER - Scott Grimes (pictured) lined a solo home run to leftfield in the seventh inning to break a 4-4 tie and put Worcester ahead for good as the Tornadoes held on for a 5-4 win over the New Jersey Jackals on Tuesday evening at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field.
With the win, Worcester's magic number to clinch a playoff berth dropped to seven. Newcomer Kyle Jackson was strong in his Tornadoes debut, facing the minimum 12 batters over the first four innings while failing to allow a hit until the fifth. His final line was 6.2 innings pitched allowing four runs (three earned) on only three hits, four walks, and three strikeouts. Francisco Caraballo crushed his 17th home run of the season in the sixth inning and Scott Grimes tied him for second in the league in longballs with a go-ahead solo shot in the seventh. Chris Colabello (2-for-3) swatted a pair of singles with a run scored and Omar Pena was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Eddie Pena pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless relief for the win while John Birtwell got out of a ninth-inning jam for his 12th save of the season.
The Tornadoes turned two fourth-inning errors by shortstop Bryant Nelson into a 2-0 advantage. After B.J. Weed reached via the first miscue, then Colabello singled to leftfield. Later in the inning, Colabello crossed the plate when Caraballo beat the throw on Nelson's second error of the frame.
New Jersey answered with a pair in the fifth to tie the game at two. Luke Allen led off with a chopper that Omar Pena couldn't handle. Matt Lauderdale followed the fielding error with a walk prior to Chris Kelly's bloop single into right field which scored Allen from second to make it 2-1. Billy Kovatch followed with an infield single, plating Lauderdale, to make it 2-2.
In the sixth, the Jackals used a two-run home run by Lauderdale for the 4-2 advantage. Worcester stormed right back with a two-run shot to left-center field by Caraballo, scoring Trezza in front of him to knot things at 4-4.
Grimes lined a solo shot over the left field wall in the seventh to give the Tornadoes the 5-4 lead, a score which held the rest of the way.
The series continues on Wednesday with Junior Guerrero toeing the rubber opposite Jorge Acosta. The final homestand runs through Sunday and is highlighted by Back to School Night/Fireworks Show on Friday, Aug. 22, Fan Appreciation Night/Fireworks Show on the Saturday the 23rd, and Tykes Club on Sunday the 24th! For more information on upcoming promotions or for tickets to these or any games, call the Tornadoes' office at 508-792-2288 or crash the web at worcestertornadoes.com. All games can be heard live on NewsTalk 580 AM and 94.9 FM WTAG and online at www.wtag.com.
Canadian American League Stories from August 19, 2008
- Jackals downed by late homerun - New Jersey Jackals
- Grimes' long ball propels Tornadoes - Worcester Tornadoes
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