Tornadoes make early lead hold up
August 20, 2008 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
WORCESTER - Junior Guerrero allowed one hit and no runs over the first seven innings and the Tornadoes weathered a late New Jersey rally to hold on for a 7-4 victory over the Jackals on Wednesday evening at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field.
The win lowers Worcester's (47-36) magic number for clinching a playoff berth to five while matching the team's high water mark of 11 games over .500. After seven brilliant innings in which he faced only two batters over the minimum, Guerrero struggled in the eighth but held on for his seventh win of the season. He allowed four runs (all earned) on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts over 7.1 innings. Francisco Caraballo was the offensive hero, finishing 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs, and a run scored. Scott Grimes, Alex Trezza, Chuck Jeroloman, and Mike MacMillan picked up the other RBIs. Eddie Pena pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save of the season.
Worcester came out swinging with two runs in the first inning, one in the second, and three more in the third to open up a 6-0 lead. Caraballo started the scoring in the first with a single to right field, plating Grimes and B.J. Weed to make it 2-0.
Grimes drove in the lone second-inning tally with a seeing-eye single through the left side of the infield, scoring Omar Pena from second for the 3-0 advantage.
The Tornadoes came up with their most productive inning in the third, crossing the plate three times behind a trio of RBI hits. After Chris Colabello drew Worcester's third-consecutive leadoff walk, Trezza drove him in with a double down the right field line. Jeroloman followed with a bloop double, plating Trezza for the 5-0 lead. One out later, MacMillan singled to left, scoring Jeroloman to make it 6-0.
Guerrero cruised until the eighth inning when a Chris Kelly walk and a Billy Kovatch home run made it 6-2. Craig Maddox and Marcus Sanders followed with singles, knocking Guerrero from the game. Lefty reliever Ryan Lobban came in and allowed both inherited runners to score when Bryant Nelson's two-run double cut the lead in half at 6-4.
Caraballo continued his torrid home run pace with a towering long ball in the bottom of the inning to make it 7-4. It marked his 18th round tripper of the season to pull into sole possession of second place in the league. It was also his fourth home run in the last five games.
The series concludes on Thursday evening with lefty Tom Cochran toeing the rubber opposite righthander Ted Serro. The final homestand runs through Sunday and is highlighted by Back to School Night/Fireworks Show on Friday, Aug. 22, Fan Appreciation Night/Fireworks Show on the Saturday the 23rd, and Tykes Club on Sunday the 24th! For more information on upcoming promotions or for tickets to these or any games, 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.
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Canadian American League Stories from August 20, 2008
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