Opitz Nearly Hits for Cycle, Sox Smash Tornadoes 12-2
July 3, 2012 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
Jake Opitz fell a triple short of the cycle and the Amarillo Sox scored ten earned runs off of Zach Zuercher in a 12-2 victory over the Worcester Tornadoes on Tuesday night in the Lone Star State.
Zuercher got the loss with six-plus innings of work, allowing 12 total runs on 13 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 3 Amarillo hitters in the defeat.
Ryan Mitchell earned the victory with eight innings pitched. He gave up two runs to the visitors, plus eight hits and just one walk. He struck out nine Worcester hitters.
Johnny Welch started the night's scoring with a solo home run in the top of the fourth. It was the first time on the road trip Worcester had a lead of any amount (after being swept by the Laredo Lemurs, scoring one run in the three-game series).
In the bottom half of the frame, Opitz went yard to tie the game.
Just one inning later, the Sox gained their first (and only) lead of the contest. Adam Buschini, Mitch Abeita and Garrett Rau all came in to score on Abeita's infield single, a fielder's choice by Jason White and a throwing error by Tony Patane (one of two he had in the game).
In the bottom of the sixth, Amarillo tacked on another three runs from an Alberto Espinosa two-RBI double and the third hit of the game in as many at-bats for Abeita.
Amarillo chased Zuercher from the game in the seventh inning by charging five runs to him. The first five batters reached-- four from hits and one from an error-and they all came around to score. The Sox had three players score multiple runs (Opitz three, Buschini three and Espinosa two).
Alex Trezza knocked the other Tornadoes run in with a fielder's choice in the eighth, plating Brandon Pinckney, who led the inning off with a single.
Mike Mullen allowed just one hit and one walk in two innings of relief of Zuercher, striking out three batters. He allowed the only runner he inherited to score though on a sacrifice fly by Rau in the seventh.
Game two of the series is Wednesday at 8:05 pm EST, as Ryan Bicondoa takes the hill for Worcester.
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Canadian American League Stories from July 3, 2012
- Opitz Nearly Hits for Cycle, Sox Smash Tornadoes 12-2 - Worcester Tornadoes
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