Kneeland Grand Slam Beats Jackals 5-4
August 6, 2012 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
Cam Kneeland had a go-ahead grand slam and Dan Sausville gave up two earned runs in eight innings as the Worcester Tornadoes topped the New Jersey Jackals on Monday night at Yogi Berra Stadium.
The Jackals stranded the game-tying and go-ahead runs on base in both the eighth and ninth innings. Sausville escaped the jam in the eighth with a back door curve ball to strike Carlos Guzman out looking before Matt Nandin grounded out to end the frame. In the ninth, Nick Serino notched his eighth save with a flyout to left by Matt Cusick.
All three of Kneeland's homers this season have given the Tornadoes the lead in a game they never relinquished it. A two-run shot topped the Rockland Boulders in the fifth inning of an eventual 9-5 win, another two-run bomb beat the Jackals in walk-off fashion 5-4 last week, and his four-run four-base hit on Monday turned the largest deficit of the game for either team into Worcester's second lead.
Alex Nunez had an infield single with the bases loaded in the first to make it 1-0, scoring Jerod Edmondson (who had doubled to start the game).
In the bottom of the second, 2008 Tornadoes outfielder Francisco Caraballo led off with a solo homer to tie the game at one apiece.
The Jackals took the lead with three runs (two unearned) against Sausville in the fifth. Jeff Lanning scored from first and Gaetano Giunta got all the way to third on a sac bunt-turned three-base throwing error by Chris Torres. Giunta came home on Bryan Sabatella's RBI double on the next pitch. Sabatella scored to make it 4-1 New Jersey when Cusick grounded out to second base with one down.
Dustin Birosak got the loss the in contest, dropping to (3-3) on the season. He went seven innings in the defeat, striking out eight Worcester batters. He allowed five runs (all earned) on seven hits and three walks, but retired the Tornadoes in order three times.
In the victory, Sausville completed eight innings. He struck four batters out, walked four, and gave up six hits. Two of the four runs he allowed were earned.
Serino gave up a hit and a walk before picking up the save.
Game two of the series will pit Kevin Cooper against Isaac Pavlik with a 7:05pm scheduled first pitch. Tornadoes Pre-Game Live will begin at 6:50 on USTREAM.tv.
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Canadian American League Stories from August 6, 2012
- Can-Am League Game Recaps - Can-Am
- Kneeland Grand Slam Beats Jackals 5-4 - Worcester Tornadoes
- Boulder Blevins Named Can-Am Pitcher of the Week - New York Boulders
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