Tornadoes Clinch Postseason Berth

Published on August 28, 2008 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release


Quebec City, Quebec - The Sussex Skyhawks' 3-1 victory over the New Jersey Jackals sealed the Tornadoes' spot in the 2008 playoffs, despite Worcester's 5-1 loss to the Quebec Capitales at Le Stade Municipal on Wednesday night.

The game featured two of the league's best pitchers in Worcester lefty Tom Cochran (13-3) and Quebec righthander Michel Simard (13-2) and began as a terrific pitchers' duel. Quebec scored in the 1st inning for the second straight night, using a one-out solo home run from Goefrey Tomlinson to go up 1-0. After surrendering the homer, Cochran really got into a groove, retiring 11 of the next 12 batters he faced. Simard matched him, as the game remained 1-0 into the bottom of the 5th inning. Alex Nunez led off the frame with a walk and stole second base. Greg Stevens followed with a soft bloop single to right-center, then moved to second while Nunez scored when Scott Grimes overthrew the cutoff man for an error. The next batter, Josh Colafemina, hit a comebacker to the mound that Cochran stabbed and had Stevens hung up between second and third. But Cochran's throw to second base was in the dirt, allowing Stevens to move to third safely while Colafemina reached at first. Mike Goss drove in another run with an infield single to deep short, and after Goefrey Tomlinson walked, Pat Scalabrini plated Colafemina with a groundout to shortstop. After Eddie Lantigua was intentionally walked to load the bases, Cochran walked Patrick Deschenes on a 3-2 pitch, forcing in the fourth run of the inning and giving Quebec a 5-0 lead. The Tornadoes pushed across a run in the 8th off righty Mark James on a B.J. Weed single, a Chris Colabello double and an Alex Trezza RBI groundout, but Worcester could get no closer.

Simard (13-3) allowed at least one baserunner in every inning, but worked out of jams to toss seven shutout frames for the win. Cochran (13-3) pitched well, but was charged with all five runs and took the loss. The Skyhawks' victory over New Jersey officially eliminated Brockton from Second Half title contention, thereby clinching a trip to the postseason for both themselves and Worcester. Atlantic City wrapped up the fourth and final playoff spot with a 5-3 win over Nashua. Postseason seeding for the 2-4 slots has yet to be determined. If Worcester is a #2 or a #3 seed, they will begin the playoffs with two games at home on Wednesday, September 3 and Thursday, September 4, hosting either Sussex or Atlantic City. If the Tornadoes are the #4 seed, they will play the first two games in Quebec, before returning home for a game on Friday, September 5 and games on Sunday, September 7 and Monday, September 8, if necessary. The Tornadoes look to take the rubber game of their three-game series and of the season series with Quebec, when they play the series finale on Thursday night. Righty Matt Weagle will get the start for Worcester and he will be opposed by Quebec righthander Karl Gelinas. First pitch is set for 7:05pm.

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Canadian American League Stories from August 28, 2008


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