Tornadoes outslug Rox
July 14, 2008 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
WORCESTER - Francisco Caraballo (pictured) finished a single shy of the cycle and drove in five runs to lead the Worcester Tornadoes to the 11-10 win over the Brockton Rox on Monday night at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field.
Caraballo's 3-for-5 effort included a home run in the first inning, a triple in the fourth, and a double in the seventh. Junior Guerrero labored through six innings, but did pitch well enough for his fourth win of the season. He allowed seven earned runs on eight hits with four walks and two strikeouts. B.J. Weed (2-for-5) and Chris Colabello (3-for-4) also finished with multiple hits, with one of Colabello's hits being his second home run in as many games. Omar Pena and Jeff LaHair also reached base three times apiece on two walks and a single. John Birtwell came into a mess in the ninth, but worked out of the jam for his eighth save. Worcester's offensive outburst was against Brockton ace John Kelly who entered with a 1.46 ERA having allowed only 10 earned runs all season (in 62.2 innings). But in 4.1 innings Monday, the Tornadoes roughed him up for eight runs (all earned) on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
With two on and two out in the bottom of the first inning, Caraballo lofted a fly ball down the right field line which carried over the wall for a three-run home run. His 10th long ball of the season scored Colabello and Alex Trezza for the 3-0 lead.
Vic Davilla nearly missed a home run in the top of the third, but his double still drove in Melvin Falu for Brockton's first run of the game. Phillip Cuadrado followed with a drive to nearly the same spot, but this time the long fly cleared the wall to make it 3-3.
Worcester regained the lead in the fourth with Caraballo serving as the catalyst once again. He led off the inning with a triple down the left field line and scored on Chuck Jeroloman's sacrifice fly. Pena then walked and stole second before crossing the plate on a LaHair single. Weed took the next pitch and blooped it into center field to score LaHair and give Worcester the 6-3 advantage. The Tornadoes upped their lead to 7-3 when Scott Grimes attempted to steal second base and was caught in a rundown, allowing Weed to slip through the back door before the out was recorded.
Colabello gave Worcester some insurance with a leadoff home run in the fifth inning for the 8-3 lead.
Brockton crossed the plate four times in the sixth to pull back within one. Francisco Lebron drove in the first run with a single to center field, scoring Jud Thigpen, who also reached via the single. Three batters later, Dominic Ramos crushed his second home run of the season, a three-run shot to score Eugene Julien and Josh Vander Hey, making it 8-7.
Caraballo struck again in the seventh when he picked up his third hit of the game, a long double to right-center field to score Colabello and Trezza. Later in the inning, Mike MacMillan made it 11-7 with a sacrifice fly scoring Caraballo.
The Rox got to Anthony Sullivan in the ninth inning, scoring twice and knocking him out of the game in favor of Birtwell. Brockton had runners on second-and-third with no outs when Colabello made a perfect throw to gun down Phillip Cuadrado at the plate. The Rox made it interesting, but Birtwell stranded the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base with a strikeout of Vander Hey.
The series continues on Tuesday when Tom Cochran takes the hill looking for his league-leading ninth win of the season. Kevin Shea bobbleheads will be given away and on Wednesday, Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky will throw out the first pitch! You can also win a Webkinz on Wednesday! 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.
• Discuss this story on the Canadian American League message board...
Canadian American League Stories from July 14, 2008
- Tornadoes outslug Rox - Worcester Tornadoes
- Can-Am Leage recap July 14 - Can-Am
- Rox fall just short in loss - Brockton Rox
- Surf continue winning ways - Atlantic City Surf
- Skyhawks top Pride - Sussex Skyhawks
- Sussex Sneaks Past Pride; 6-4 - American Defenders of New Hampshire
- Jackals fall to Surf - New Jersey Jackals
- Rapdiz win in dramatic fashion - Ottawa Voyageurs
- Duplissie Named Hitter of the Week - American Defenders of New Hampshire
- Duplissie, Valdez - Can-Am League Players of the Week - Can-Am
- Johnny Pesky to Attend Wednesday's Tornadoes Game - Worcester Tornadoes
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
