Tornadoes Drop 20-Inning Marathon, 5-4
Published on June 27, 2008 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
WORCESTER - In the longest game in Can Am League history, the Worcester Tornadoes battled back from two extra-inning deficits, but the third time wasn't the charm as the New Jersey Jackals finished off the four-game sweep with a 5-4 20-inning win which lasted from Thursday evening into Friday morning at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field.
In total, the six hour-six minute game which had 593 pitches thrown included a number of league records. Among the records were New Jersey's 21 strikeouts of Worcester hitters.
The evening started with Chandler Barnard pitching tremendously in his first-career start. He finished with 5.1 innings pitched, giving up four hits and only one run. Justin Edwards was the star of extra innings, pitching seven relief frames with only one run allowed on seven hits. B.J. Weed was the star offensively, finishing 4-for-9 with a run scored and RBI. Josh Farkes (3-for-8) and Scott Grimes (2-for-8) also finished with multiple hits. New Jersey's Marcus Sanders was the star for the Jackals, finishing 5-for-10, including hits that tied the score at two, gave them the 3-2 lead, and also the 5-4 advantage.
It all started when New Jersey pitcher Isaac Pavlik and Barnard matched zeroes through the first five innings. Among a plethora of tremendous defensive plays was when the first batter of the game, Marcus Sanders, was robbed by Worcester's Josh Farkes who made an outstanding diving catch in left field. Then in the third, shortstop Chuck Jeroloman prevented a run when he made a backhanded diving stop and recorded the force out at second to end the threat. Grimes continued the defensive mastery in the fourth when his diving catch in right field robbed Casey Gordon of a hit.
The Jackals broke the ice in the sixth, riding two walks to the 1-0 lead. Juan Tejeda and Matt Lauderdale led off the inning with free passes. Andrew Larsen sacrificedthe runners into scoring position while Craig Maddox greeted new pitcher Ryan Lobban with an RBI groundout.
Weed continued his strong series with an RBI single in the seventh to tie the game at one. Omar Pena led off the inning with a triple to right field. After Mike MacMillan walked, Farkes hit a popup that failed to score Pena, leading up to Weed's clutch base hit.
Jeroloman was ejected from the game after arguing a strike call in the bottom of the sixth. Replacement Jeff LaHair made his presence felt with his fourth home run of the season in the eighth, a long solo shot to center field giving the Tornadoes the 2-1 advantage.
New Jersey battled back in the ninth with a run off Worcester closer John Birtwell. Tommy Murphy was hit to lead off the inning allowing Gordon to bunt him to second. Sanders followed with a one-out hit to center, scoring Murphy to tie the game at two.
The two teams battled through six scoreless frames with New Jersey pitchers Ted Serro and Brandon Martin stifling the Tornadoes while Edwards matched them pitch-for-pitch. Francisco Caraballo did have a close call in the 15th when he crushed a Martin offering deep into the night which barely landed foul.
The Jackals took advantage in the following frame with the first run of extra innings. Gordon hit a one-out triple to deep right which started the rally. Sanders followed with a single into right field, scoring Gordon for the 3-2 lead.
Worcester took advantage of a Sanders error in the bottom of the inning to extend the marathon game. Pena was the benefactor, reaching first and stealing second which led up to Farkes' heroics. His two-out bouncer through the left side found the hole between shortstop and third base, scoring Pena for the improbable tying run.
New Jersey regained the lead in the 19th off new pitcher Alex Pena. With two outs, Andrew Larsen crushed a solo home run to left-center field for the 4-3 advantage.
Just as in the 16th, the Tornadoes once again stormed back for the tying run. Weed led off with a double down the right field line and advanced to third on a Grimes sacrifice bunt. Colabello followed with a sacrifice fly to deep right to tie the game at four.
In the 20th inning, Sanders hit a solo shot off Pena to give New Jersey its third extra-inning lead at 5-4, a lead that the Jackals' Tom Atlee closed out for his first save.
First place will be on the line Friday when Worcester hosts Quebec at 6:05 p.m. Tom Cochran takes the hill for the Tornadoes looking to earn his sixth win of the season. For tickets, call the Tornadoes' office at 508-792-2288 or crash the web at worcestertornadoes.com. All 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 June 27, 2008
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- Tornadoes win easily - Worcester Tornadoes
- Tornadoes Drop 20-Inning Marathon, 5-4 - Worcester Tornadoes
- The Rapidz Hit the Net - Ottawa Voyageurs
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