Tornadoes inch closer to playoffs
August 26, 2008 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
Quebec City, Quebec -- Second Baseman Omar Pena snapped an 0-for-23 skid with a clutch two-out RBI single to left in the top of the 9th inning to break a 5-5 tie and propel the Worcester Tornadoes to a 6-5 win over the Quebec Capitales at Le Stade Municipal on Tuesday night.
The night didn't start out well for Worcester, as righty Junior Guerrero served up back-to-back solo home runs to Pat Scalabrini and Eddie Lantigua in the bottom of the 1st inning for a 2-0 Quebec lead. But the Tornadoes got to Capitales righthander T.J. Stanton in the 3rd. Jeff LaHair singled to rightcenter and Scott Grimes doubled him home, with LaHair bowling over Catcher Greg Stevens, knocking the ball out of his mitt to score the run. Grimes moved the third base on the throw to the plate and scored on a B.J. Weed grounder to second base, tying things at 2-2. Chris Colabello then followed with a solo home run to leftfield, his 15th of the season. After Alex Trezza popped out to third base, Francisco Caraballo and Chuck Jeroloman laced back-to-back two-out doubles to give Worcester a two-run cushion at 4-2. The Tornadoes tacked on one more in the 5th off Stanton on a trio of singles, the third of which, off the bat of Colabello, plated Mike MacMillan to make it 5-2, Worcester.
Meanwhile, Guerrero settled down nicely after the 1st inning home runs, retiring 15 of the next 16 batters he faced. But Quebec would mount a rally in the 6th inning. With two outs and nobody on, Scalabrini laid down a bunt single to the left side that Guerrero was unable to handle. Lantigua followed with his second home run of the night, a two-run shot to rightcenter, which brought the Capitales within one. Patrick Deschenes then grounded a double down the leftfield line and Alex Nunez singled to center, bringing home Deschenes with the tying run. The game remained tied into the 9th inning, with Quebec turning to their closer, Jason Schutt, with the score even. Schutt, who had not allowed a hit to Worcester all season in recording 3 previous saves against the Tornadoes, gave up a broken bat bloop single to right by Colabello to start the 9th. One out later, Caraballo dumped a soft single to rightfield, putting men at first and second. Chuck Jeroloman struck out swinging for the second out to set the stage for Omar Pena, who came through with the big hit to score Colabello with what proved to be the game-winner.
Righty Eddie Pena (6-5) retired all five batters he faced for the win and Schutt (3-2) took the loss. Caraballo, the reigning Can-Am League Batter of the Week, extended his streak of games without a strikeout to 8, twice as long as his previous run of games without a "K" this season. Caraballo and Colabello had three hits apiece and Grimes and Weed added two each to fuel the 14-hit Worcester attack. The win, combined with Brockton's loss to Ottawa, clinches a top-four best overall record for Worcester. On the verge of their first playoff berth since 2005, the Tornadoes can only officially clinch when Brockton is eliminated from Second Half contention. The Rox are 4 games out of first place in the Second Half with 6 games remaining. Therefore, the magic number to eliminate Brockton is 3: any combination of Rox losses and wins by the team in first place in the Second Half (currently Quebec and Sussex, with Worcester and Atlantic City one game back) will eliminate Brockton from playoff contention and seal Worcester's postseason bid.
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Canadian American League Stories from August 26, 2008
- Tornadoes inch closer to playoffs - Worcester Tornadoes
- Can-Am Leage recap August 26 - Can-Am
- Surf collapse late - Atlantic City Surf
- Rapidz score twice in the ninth inning to steal victory - Brockton Rox
- Playoff Picture Still Muddled as Surf Prepare for Final Week - Atlantic City Surf
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