Tornadoes Bats Struggle in Key Spots, Worcester Falls 7-4
June 13, 2012 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
For the second time in three days, Worcester grabbed a lead early on, but Quebec rallied and held off the Tornadoes in the Capitales 7-4 victory over the Tornadoes at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field on Wednesday evening.
Nick Salotti and Alex Trezza each hit home runs for the Tornadoes but that was as much as they could get against Jeff Duda and the Capitales bullpen. Salotti hit a 3-run homer over the left field fence with no outs in the second inning to give the Tornadoes a 3-2 lead in the second inning. The first baseman (2-for-4) added a single in the fourth.
Trezza had his best game of the season, crushing his first home run of the year, to go along with a double. The veteran had his second multi-hit game of the season and his first two-extra base hit contest.
The Tornadoes struggled to solve Jeff Duda (3-0) who struck out 13 batters over the course of seven innings. Duda allowed just eight hits and three runs in his longest career outing with Quebec. Chris Cox had a perfect ninth inning to earn his second save of the season.
Dan Sausville took the loss for Worcester in his first career start against his former team. Sausville allowed 12 hits on seven earned runs in six and two-thirds innings. Sausville allowed just four runs through the first six innings but Quebec scored three, two-out runs (all charged to Sausville) on four consecutive hits.
Nick Serino, Mike Mullen and Chris Torres pitched the final two and-a-third scoreless innings. The trio allowed just one hit and each pitcher struck out a Quebec batter.
Quebec jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on a Patrick D'Aoust two-run double. With Josue Peley on second and Steve Brown on first with one out, D'Aoust flared a soft line drive past Nick Salotti down the right field line to score both runners, before he was erased trying to take third base.
The Tornadoes immediately answered in the bottom half. Jose Canseco smashed the first of his two line drive singles and Trezza followed with a laser double to right field. Nick Salotti stepped up next and cleared the bases with a home run to left field to make it 3-2.
That would be the last time Worcester would lead, as Quebec added a single run in the third and fourth innings. Jeff Helps scored on a double-play ball in the third inning and Normand Gosselin plated D'Aoust in the fourth to make it a 4-3 game after four.
Worcester had a huge chance to even up the game or grab the lead back in the sixth inning but failed to capitalize. Brandon Pinckney, Jerod Edmondson and Canseco led off the inning with consecutive singles to load the bases with no outs. But Duda retired the next three batters with two strikeouts and a popout on the infield to get out of the jam.
The Capitales blew the game open in the seventh inning. After the first two outs were recorded, Quebec hit three straight doubles off of Sausville to end his outing. The final double by Rene Leveret was nearly caught by Cameron Monger at the right field fence, but Monger couldn't make the play as he crashed into the wall.
Mike Mullen relieved Sausville with two outs and a runner on second and promptly allowed an RBI single from Peley to make it 7-3. Mullen struck out Steve Brown to end the frame, but the damage was done, as Quebec grabbed the big lead.
Trezza crushed a home run to right field in the eight inning to cut the deficit to 7-4 but the Tornadoes would add just one hit in the rest of the eight and the ninth. With the win, Quebec earned their fourth win in five tries against Worcester in the series. The two teams will face off for the final time in the series Thursday at 11:05 A.M., with Kevin Cooper taking on Justin Wiley.
Canadian American League Stories from June 13, 2012
- Can-Am League Game Recap - Can-Am
- Tornadoes Bats Struggle in Key Spots, Worcester Falls 7-4 - Worcester Tornadoes
- Can-Am League/American Association Game Recap - Can-Am
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