Tornadoes Beat The Storm, Top Nashua 14-7
Published on May 18, 2008 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
WORCESTER - The Worcester Tornadoes' second attempt at the preseason opener was a success in more ways than one as an eight-run third inning was more than enough for a 14-7 win over the Nashua Pride on Sunday afternoon at Fitton Field.
Along with topping the Pride, the Tornadoes defeated Mother Nature as rain held off until the game concluded, unlike Friday when Worcester's showdown at Brockton was called off.
Worcester found itself in an early hole after Nashua scored the game's first three runs, but the Tornadoes' offense responded with 10 consecutive runs to turn a 3-0 deficit into a 10-3 advantage, a lead they would not relinquish. Both teams finished with 14 hits, led by five multiple-hit games on each side. Chris Colabello led the Tornadoes' attack with three hits and three RBI. Matt Weagle picked up the win with three strong innings, allowing four hits and one earned run. John Birtwell was also strong as he threw a perfect ninth inning to hold the impressive seven-run victory.
Nashua took advantage of Junior Guerrero's early wildness with three runs in the first two innings. Sandy Almonte led off the game with a bloop single that fell just in front of center fielder Scott Grimes. After Jack Joffrian struck out, Guerrero walked three of the next four batters with a Luis Rodriguez sacrifice fly sandwiched in between. The Pride then loaded the bases for the second time, but Argenis Tavarez flew to center to end the threat.
After Guerrero walked his fourth batter to lead off the second, Almonte blooped his second hit in as many innings. Joffrion followed with a two-run double into the right-center field gap for the 3-0 advantage.
Alex Trezza, making his Tornadoes debut, impressed with a home run leading off the second inning. The monster shot cleared the right field fence and cut the lead to 3-1.
Worcester would score, and score often in the third inning off new pitcher Eiji Yano. In the end, 11 Tornadoes came to the plate, riding five hits, two hit batters, one walk, and one error to eight runs and the 9-3 lead. The first big blow came off the bat of Mike MacMillan. His fly to left field just eluded the reach of Tavarez and scored Worcester's fourth and fifth runs of the inning. A few batters later, Grimes picked up his second hit of the inning, a two-run homer to center field.
The Tornadoes added a run in the fourth when Colabello scored off first baseman Bryan Duplissie's error. Nashua responded in the top of the fifth when Tavarez hit a double to right-center field, scoring Mike Conroy to make it 10-4. Worcester then scored for the fourth consecutive inning in the bottom of the fifth when Colabello hit a chopper to first that Duplisse couldn't handle for the 11-4 score.
Duplisse jacked Nashua's first home run of the game with none out in the top of the seventh to make it 11-6. Later in the inning, the Pride loaded the bases with only one out, but Shaun McNamara got out of the jam when Chris Scarola popped out Almonte hit into a fielder's choice. In the bottom of the inning, Colabello got those runs right back when his double down the right-field line plated two.
In the top of the eighth, Joffrion welcomed Worcester's Alex Beres with a no-doubt home run over the wall in left field for the 13-7 score. Just like they did in the fifth and seventh, the Tornadoes matched Nashua's run output behind a Justin Edwards RBI groundout, which proved to be the final scoring in the game.
The Tornadoes are right back in action on Tuesday as they host the Brockton Rox at 6:05 p.m. in their final exhibition game of the preseason. Admission is free for all so be sure to head to the ballpark and see your hometown team before they open the regular season on Thursday, May 22 at Sussex!
After traveling to Nashua, the first regular season home game is Thursday, May 29, also against Sussex. For tickets, call the Tornadoes' office at 508-792-2288 or crash the web at www. worcestertornadoes.com. All 94 regular season games and all three preseason exhibition 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 May 18, 2008
- Rapidz win preseason debut - Ottawa Voyageurs
- Tornadoes Beat The Storm, Top Nashua 14-7 - Worcester Tornadoes
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