Tornadoes Ruwe Missed Opportunity In Sussex
May 23, 2008 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
Augusta, NJ -- Francisco Caraballo homered for the second time in as many days, but a costly error helped the Skyhawks snap a 3-3 tie late, as Sussex defeated the Worcester Tornadoes, 4-3, at Skylands Park on Friday night.
The Skyhawks struck first, using a leadoff double from Ron Perodin and a one-out RBI single from Jorge Moreno off Tornadoes righty Shaun McNamara, to take a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning. The Tornadoes tied it in the top of the 2nd when Rico Santana scored on ground ball to short off the bat of Jeff LaHair. But Sussex went back on top in the bottom half of the 2nd inning. McNamara walked Alex Frazier to begin the frame, then hit Yohanny Valera. After Matt Weston struck out, Jay Yaconetti singled home Frazier and Chris Brown plated a second run with a fielder's choice grounder, putting Sussex up 3-1. However, the Tornadoes fought back in the top of the 3rd inning off Sussex righthander Kyle Ruwe (1-0). Scott Grimes led off with a double, then two outs later, Caraballo blasted his second home run in two games to rightfield. The home run was disputed at first, and it took a meeting of the umpires to determine that it had cleared the first of three decks of outfied signs. The longball tied the score at 3-3, and then both pitchers settled down. McNamara went 6 solid innings and finished very strong, retiring 10 of the last 11 men he faced. Ruwe was just as good, allowing just 3 harmless singles in 5.1 innings after the Caraballo blast.
The game remained tied into the bottom of the 7th inning, with lefty Jake Ociesa (0-1) on in relief of McNamara. After the first batter was retired, Yaconetti hit a bounding ball up the middle at 2B Jeff LaHair gloved behind the second base bag. His throw, however, was wide towards the rightfield line for an error, allowing Yaconetti to take second. He advanced to third on an infield groundout and scored the go-ahead (unearned) run on a swinging bunt single to the right side by Perodin. Ruwe took care of the Tornadoes in the 8th, and righty Matt Petrusek, who struck out the side in the 9th the night before, fanned two in a perfect 9th to secure the victory.
Ruwe (1-0) picked up the Win and Ociesa (0-1) was the hard-luck loser. Petrusek earned his first Save of the season. The Tornadoes will look to get back on track on Saturday evening when they send righty Junor Guerrero to the mound against Sussex right Michael Rogers. First pitch is set for 5:05pm.
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