Tornadoes Fail to Sweep Away Rapidz
June 8, 2008 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
Ottawa, Ontario -- The Tornadoes squandered an early 6-0 lead and the bullpen struggled, as Worcester ultimately fell to the Rapidz, 11-8, in Ottawa on Sunday afternoon.
Worcester wasted little time in jumping all over Ottawa starter, righty Orlando Trias. Francisco Caraballo took him deep to leftfield leading off the 2nd inning, and the Tornadoes used 5 hits in the 3rd and 2 more in the 4th to score 5 more runs and knock out Trias after just 3.1 innings. Righty Junior Guerrero appeared to be in control after three effective innings and the big 6-0 lead, but he faltered in the 4th. Two singles, two walks and a sacrifice fly put Ottawa on the board and brought light-hitting Jared Lemieux to the plate with the bases loaded. Lemieux took a Guerrero pitch down the rightfield line, it hit off the top of the wall and bounced over it for a grand slam. It was Lemieux's first professional home run, as the Rapidz cut their deficit to just one run at 6-5.
The Tornadoes got one run back in the 6th on an Alex Trezza RBI groundout, but the Rapidz went to work on the Worcester bullpen in the bottom half of the inning. With Guerrero gone after 5 innings, Ottawa used three singles and a walk to score 2 runs and tie the game off lefty Jake Ociesa (0-2) in the 6th. Worcester would briefly reclaim the lead at 8-7 in the top of the 7th on a Jeff LaHair RBI hit, but Ottawa came back strong again in the bottom of the inning. Ociesa walked Jabe Bergeron to begin the inning, then gave up a line single to center to Kyle Geiger on an 0-2 pitch. Lefty Ryan Lobban relieved Ociesa and Pete Pirman tried to drop down a sacrifice bunt towards first. Chris Colabello fielded the bunt and threw to third to try to cut down the lead runner, but the throw was wild and ended up down the leftfield line as two runs scored. Pirman would later cross the plate on an RBI single by Felix Escalona. Ottawa tacked on an insurance run off Alex Beras in the 8th to provide the final margin.
Righty Noel Baca (1-1) pitched the final 3.1 innings of the game for the win and Ociesa (0-2) took the loss. Ottawa's bullpen allowed 2 runs in 5.2 innings while the Worcester pen was charged with 6 runs in 3 innings. The loss was the biggest comeback defeat for the Tornadoes on the season, and the first time that Worcester lost a day game and a game in which they collected 10 or more hits (14 on the game). The Tornadoes will try to get back on track on Monday night in Quebec, as they will play the first game of a three-game series against the Capitales to conclude the Canadian road trip. Righty Shaun McNamara will make the start for Worcester and he will be opposed by Quebec righthander Michel Simard. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.
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