Late Quebec Rally Stymies Tornadoes in 3-2 Loss
June 21, 2012 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
Despite Zach Zuercher and company's best efforts, the Quebec Capitales took their third series in three tries over the Tornadoes behind Thursday night's 3-2 comeback victory at Le Stade Municipale.
Zuercher pitched eight strong innings and the Tornadoes held a lead from the second inning to the eight, before another Quebec rally spoiled Zuercher's effort. The lefty allowed three runs on seven hits and tied his season-high with seven strikeouts but took his second loss in three starts against Quebec this season.
After giving up a single run in the first inning, Zuercher held the Capitales in check for six straight innings until the bottom of the eight. In the inning, Sebastien Boucher led off with a walk and Rene Leveret followed with a single to move Boucher to third. Boucher scored on a Josue Peley sacrifice fly and Leveret came into score after a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly from Steve Brown.
Nick Salotti and Chris Torres accounted for the lone Worcester runs, with back-to-back home runs on back-to-back pitches in the top of the second. Salotti went 2-for-4 on the day and finished off the series with three home runs (one in each of the final three games) and seven RBI. For Torres it was his fifth home run of the season but just his first on the road.
Alex Trezza, Jerod Edmondson and pinch hitter Mike Gedman tallied the final three hits of the day for Worcester, as the Tornadoes managed just six against a quarter of Quebec pitchers.
Guillaume Duguay earned the win for Patrick Scalibrini's club, pitching two-third of an inning to close out the Tornadoes rally in the eight inning. TJ Stanton recorded the save, despite giving up a double to Tornadoes reliever Mike Gedman who came on to pinch hit with two outs in the ninth. Karl Gelinas went back-and-forth with Zach Zuercher, allowing two earned runs in seven innings, while striking out seven Tornadoes.
Quebec jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the the first inning behind a pair of two-baggers. Shortstop Jeff Helps led off the inning with a double, and with two outs Leveret crushed a double of his own to give Quebec the early lead.
Worcester responded in the next half inning with a pair of one-out home runs. Salotti and Torres went back-to-back, becoming the first Tornadoes to go back-to-back this season.
Unfortunately that would be all the Tornadoes could muster, as they left seven men on base the rest of the way, including four men in scoring position. The Tornadoes best scoring chance came in the eight inning against Dexter Bobo and Duguay. Edmondson led off with a walk but was quickly replaced by Johnny Welch on a fielder's choice groundout. Alex Trezza followed with a walk to put runners on first and second, but Duguay came on and struck out Salotti and Trezza was caught in a rundown to end the threat.
The Tornadoes return home Friday for a six-game home-stand beginning with the Newark Bears starting tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. The Tornadoes Pregame Show Live will begin at 6:50 p.m. with Seth Orensky bringing you all the news in Tornadoes world on ustream.tv.
Canadian American League Stories from June 21, 2012
- Pavlik Gets The No-Decision, Jackals Prevail 6-4 - New Jersey Jackals
- Boulders lose to Grand Prairie - New York Boulders
- Late Quebec Rally Stymies Tornadoes in 3-2 Loss - Worcester Tornadoes
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