Tornadoes split double header
June 8, 2006 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
WORCESTER MA- The Worcester Tornadoes and the Sussex Skyhawks came into tonight's double-header with identical records. After two games and 14 innings, that has not changed, the teams now each have records of 9-5.
Keith Beauregard was the hero in the first game. The Tornadoes were down to their final cuts, and down by two runs heading into the bottom of the seventh. Julio Perez was on to try to save the game for the Skyhawks. He was able to retire the leadoff man, Bob Tewksbary on a tough called third strike. Following the strike out, the Tornadoes put together three straight singles, none of which were hit hard. The first came from catcher Onix Mercado, who was a triple away from hitting for the cycle. The following two singles from Chris Colabello and Zach Strong were hit on the ground to the right side, the latter plating Mercado.
Beauregard stepped up to the plate with runners on the corners but that changed as Strong stole second. Beauregard was hitless in the game coming into his fourth at bat (0-2, walk), but his final at-bat proved to make his game one to remember. Fourteen pitches into the at-bat Beauregard was still battling and awaiting the payoff pitch. On the 15th pitch he saw something he could hit, and Beauregard ripped a single down the right field line scoring Colabello and Strong, the game winner.
Dallas Mahan (1-1) picked up the victory for the Tornadoes, throwing two innings in relief of Alex Pena. Pena started and struggled, but was able to go five innings allowing five runs, only three of which were earned.
Brian Ford started for the Skyhawks, but did not earn a decision. Ford went five innings giving up four runs, two of which were earned. He was relieved by Joe Gault who threw one shut-out inning. Perez took the loss dropping to 1-2, throwing one-third of an inning, allowing three earned-runs.
The Tornadoes tied the game at two in the second, when Jeff Lehair hit a two-out, two RBI double. The Skyhawks promptly regained the lead by putting a three spot up in the top of the third. The score remained 5-2 until Onix Mercado hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth. The Skyhawks tacked on one more which brought the score to 6-4, setting the table for the ninth inning heroics. Thursday night's game was the second sell-out of the season as 3,645 fans witnessed the comeback.
The second game of the double-header was not as successful for the Tornadoes, as the Skyhawk southpaw Chris Zallie (2-0) was overpowering. Zallie tossed a complete game one-hitter, throwing 102 pitches, 64 for strikes. The Tornadoes only reached base three times, none of whom reached second base. Zallie finished with eight strikeouts and zero walks, although he did hit two batters.
Reid Willett brought a 2-0 record into the game with Tornadoes as well as a 0.00 ERA. Willett kept up the good work through the first three innings, holding the Skyhawks scoreless. He came into trouble in the fourth allowing two runs on three hits including an RBI single from Skyhawks designated hitter Rich Daly. The Skyhawks added three more runs in the fifth including a two RBI single from first baseman Ryan Lehr, which ended Willett's night. Chris Shank and Dave Byard pitched two and a third innings of scoreless relief for the Tornadoes.
Canadian American League Stories from June 8, 2006
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