Tornadoes Power Up, Pummel Skyhawks
May 22, 2008 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
Augusta, NJ -- Catcher Alex Trezza hit a three-run home run in his first-ever at-bat in a Tornadoes uniform in the first inning to help ignite a 17-hit attack, as the Worcester Tornadoes won their season opener, pummeling the Sussex Skyhawks, 14-5, at Skylands Park tonight.
Trezza's three-run bomb, which cleared all three decks of signs in rightfield off Sussex starter and loser RHP Gary Galvez (0-1), was one of three Worcester home runs on the night. Tornadoes starter RHP Matt Weagle (1-0) was staked to the early 3-0 lead, but allowed two runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning, as the Skyhawks closed within one. The score remained close at 3-2 until the 5th, when Rico Santana singled to left with the bases loaded and two outs, plating two and putting Worcester up 5-2. The Tornadoes used a single, a walk, a costly throwing error on former Tornado righty Matt Salvato and a sacrifice fly to score two more in the 6th and a Francisco Caraballo blast leading off the 7th made it 8-3.
But the Skyhawks wouldn't go down quietly as SS Kevin Rios touched up lefty Tom Cochran for a three-run homer in the bottom of the 7th, bringing Sussex within three at 8-5. But Worcester put the game away in the 8th, sending 10 men to the plate and scoring 6 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks off the Sussex bullpen. Six Tornadoes hitters had multi-hit games, led by Chris Colabello, who went 4-6 in his first game back in a Tornadoes uniform. Caraballo and Trezza knocked in three runs apiece, rookie Justin Edwards plated two, and Jeff LaHair had two hits including a home run.
Weagle (1-0), who had all kinds of problems getting run support last season, had no such trouble tonight, as he went 5 strong innings for the win. Galvez (0-1) allowed 9 hits and 5 earned runs in his 5 innings pitched and took the loss. Cochran pitched the final four innings of the game for his first save. The victory was the Tornadoes first Opening Day triumph since the 2005 season. Worcester will try to make it back-to-back wins over te Skyhawks tomrorow night when they send righty Shaun McNamara to the mound agaisnt Sussex righty Kyle Ruwe. First pitch is set for 6:35pm.
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