Tornadoes come back twice, conquer Rapidz
Published on June 7, 2008 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
Ottawa, Ontario -- The Worcester Tornadoes fought back twice, overcoming deficits of 3-0 early and 4-3 late, to defeat Ottawa, 6-4, at Rapidz Stadium on Saturday night.
The Rapidz jumped out on top in the 1st inning, using 5 singles off Worcester starter RHP Eddie Pena to plate three runs and take a 3-0 lead. But after double plays ended scoring threats in the 1st and 2nd innings, Worcester finally broke through against lefty Mike Kusiewicz (0-4) in the 3rd. Mike MacMillan was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Jeff LaHair followed with an infield single to deep short. B.J. Weed then plated both runners with a two-run double down the leftfield line. Weed moved to third base on a single by Scott Grimes and scored on a Francisco Caraballo sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3.
Eddie Pena settled down after the rocky 1st to pitch three straight scoreless frames, but ran into some two-out trouble in the 5th inning. Jabe Bergeron and Kyle Geiger laced back-to-back singles, then Pete Pirman (who already had a two-run single in the 1st) doubled home Bergeron for his third RBI of the game and a 4-3 Rapidz lead. But Ottawa's second lead of the game was also short-lived. MacMillan led off the top of the 7th with an infield single. LaHair sacrificed MacMillan to second base, Weed single him to third and Scott Grimes brought him home with a sacrifice fly to center to re-tie the game, this time at 4-4.
The Tornadoes would finally break out on top in the 8th inning. Rico Santana drew his first walk of the season with one out and Omar Pena singled him to second base. Kusiewicz was pulled in favor of righty Angelo Burrows who promptly gave up a soft RBI single to right-center off the bat of MacMillan. Santana scored and Pena took third base on the play, later scoring on a wild pitch, putting Worcester up 6-4. The Worcester bullpen of Ryan Lobban, Ryan Mitchell and John Birtwell tossed 3 shutout innings to help seal the victory.
Lobban (1-0) needed just 6 pitches to record 3 outs in the 7th inning and earned the Win on his 24th birthday. Kusiewicz (0-4) took the Loss and Birtwell struck out both batters he faced in the 9th for his second save in as many nights and third overall on the season. The Tornadoes turned three more double plays in the game after turning four in the series opener. Grimes extended his on-base streak to 15 games but Caraballo's came to an end at 14 as he went 0-4 with a sacrifice fly. Worcester is now 2-1 against opposing lefties on the season and 3-3 when their opponent scores first. The Tornadoes (11-4) will try to make it a three-game sweep of the Rapidz (2-14) in Ottawa when the two teams play the series finale on Sunday afternoon. Righty Junior Guerrero will make the start for Worcester and he will be opposed by Ottawa righty Orlando Trias. First pitch is set for 1:05pm.
Canadian American League Stories from June 7, 2008
- Tornadoes come back twice, conquer Rapidz - Worcester Tornadoes
- Atlantic City LHP Brian Rodaway shines in 10-3 victory over Rox - Brockton Rox
- Can-Am League Recap - Can-Am
- Rapidz defeated 6-4 by Tornadoes - Ottawa Voyageurs
- Capitales Control Pride; 10-3 - American Defenders of New Hampshire
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