Tornadoes plate touchdown in one inning for thrilling victory

Published on July 25, 2008 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release


WORCESTER - The Worcester Tornadoes notched the biggest ninth inning comeback in franchise history, batting around in the ninth inning and sending ten men to the plate with seven men crossing it, turning a 10-4 deficit into an improbable 11-10 win over the Nashua Pride in front of a raucous sellout crowd at Hanover Insurance Park on Friday evening.

The first nine batters of the inning reached base off Nashua hurlers Ryan Buckland and Andy Weimer. With the bases loaded and one out and the Tornadoes trailing 10-9, Jeff LaHair hit a potential game-ending double play bouncer to shortstop. After Sandy Almonte stepped on second base for the second out of the inning, his errant throw into the dirt at first got away from Bryan Duplissie, allowing the winning run to score. Earlier in the inning, Scott Grimes hit a two-run home run while Chris Colabello, Alex Trezza, Francisco Caraballo, Chuck Jeroloman, and Omar Pena had singles and LaHair, B.J. Weed, and Mike MacMillan drew walks.

Five Tornadoes finished with multiple hits led by Colabello and Pena who were 3-for-5 with a home run each. Caraballo, Jeroloman finished 2-for-5 while Lahair was 2-for-4.

Nashua jumped out to the quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Argenis Tavarez hit a triple that fooled Weed in center. He later scored on a Duplissie sacrifice fly, beating a strong throw to the plate from Weed.

The Pride picked up the next two runs in the fourth with Tavarez serving as the catalyst once again. After Tavarez beat out an infield single, Jeremy Pickrel doubled down the right field line. Tavarez was held up at third base, but scored when Pena bobbled the relay throw. Duplissie followed with a single into the left-center field gap, scoring Pickrel for the 3-0 lead.

Worcester made it 3-1 when Colabello pounced on the first pitch of the fourth inning and hit it over the left field fence for his 11th home run of the season.

Junior Guerrero allowed home runs in the fifth and sixth allowing the Pride to open up the 6-1 advantage. Sandy Almonte started with a solo shot in the fifth and an inning later, Mike Torres went to left-center field for a two-run shot and the five-run lead.

The Tornadoes responded in the bottom of the sixth when Jeroloman doubled to left-center, scoring Colabello all the way from first for the 6-2 score. Pena took Jarrett Stawarz's next pitch over the left field wall for the two-run shot to make it 6-4.

As they had all night, Nashua stormed right back. This time a Tavarez double scored Vinny Pennell on a bang-bang play at the plate to make it 7-4.

The Pride added three insurance runs off John Birtwell in the ninth via an Ismael Castro RBI single and Ervin Alcantara two-RBI single for the 10-4 score, leading into the dramatic finish.

Worcester closes out the homestand on Saturday vs. the Pride. Tom Cochran takes the hill for the Tornadoes looking to extend his league-leading win total. It is also Irish Night! 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 July 25, 2008


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