Tornadoes sweep doubleheader
August 12, 2008 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
Atlantic City, NJ -- The Tornadoes blasted grand slams in both ends of the doubleheader, Scott Grimes tallied seven hits on the night and Justin Edwards was victorious in his first pro start as Worcester swept the twinbill from the Atlantic City Surf, winning Game One, 5-1, then taking Game Two, 8-4.
In Game One, the Tornadoes jumped all over Surf righty J.C. Huguet in the 1st inning. Scott Grimes and B.J. Weed began the game with back-to-back singles, with Weed taking second base when the throw to third from rightfielder Josh Burrus skipped past Gil Zayas for an error. Chris Colabello struck out and Alex Trezza was intentionally walked, loading the bases. Francisco Caraballo popped out to second base, but Chuck Jeroloman followed with a two-out grand slam to left-center, the first Tornadoes grand slam of the season, and it was 4-0, Worcester. That was more than enough for righthander Matt Weagle. Weagle, working on just three days rest for the first time all season, tossed five strong innings, striking out eight, with a Brad Thoma solo home run in the 4th inning the only blemish on his record. A Weed RBI double in the 5th provided the final margin. Grimes went a perfect 4-for-4 to lead Worcester's offensive attack. Weagle (9-6) picked up the win and Huguet (8-4) suffered his first career loss to the Tornadoes.
In Game Two, the Tornadoes came out of the gate firing on all cylinders once again. Weed picked up a one-out single and Chris Colabello followed with a long two-run home run off Surf starter Rory Shortell, Colabello's third home run of the season off the Atlantic City righthander. But the Surf got one back off Justin Edwards in the bottom of the inning, as singles by Anthony Granato and Joe Burke put runners at the corners and Granato would score on a Clyde Williams double-play grounder. Worcester got the run back in the top of the 3rd inning, when Scott Grimes launched his 16th home run of the season over the centerfield wall to make it 3-1, Tornadoes. The Surf would tie it at 3-3 in the bottom of the 3rd, using three hits and a walk to even things up against Edwards. The score remained deadlocked into the top of the 6th inning, when Worcester loaded the bases with one out on two singles and an intentional walk to Omar Pena after Shortell had balked the runners to second and third base. That set the stage for Mike MacMillan, who sent a Shortell offering over the leftfield wall for the second Tornadoes grand slam of the night and a 7-3 lead. Worcester tacked on an insurance run on another Weed RBI double. Anthony Sullivan pitched the final two innings, allowing one run and fanning four to seal the deal. Edwards (1-0) picked up his first professional win in his first pro start and Shortell (7-3) took the loss.
The Tornadoes had not hit a single grand slam all season until blasting one in each end of the doubleheader tonight. MacMillan hit one of the two grand slams the Tornadoes garnered in 2007. Grimes went a combined 7-for-8 in the twinbill, setting a new Tornadoes franchise record for Hits in a single season in the process. The doubleheader sweep was the third of the season for Worcester, as the Tornadoes are now 8-4 in twinbill games on the season. The Tornadoes have won all five games they have played at Bernie Robbins Stadium this season. Worcester has matched their high-water mark of the season at ten games over .500 at 43-33. The last time the Tornadoes were ten games over .500 was when they were 19-9 and fresh off a three-game sweep of the Surf in Atlantic City. The Tornadoes seek their season-high fifth straight win when they play Game Three of their four-game series in Atlantic City against the Surf on Wednesday night. Lefty Ryan Lobban will make his first start of the season for Worcester and he will be opposed by Surf southpaw Brian Rodaway. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.
Worcester returns home on Tuesday, Aug. 19 for the final homestand of the season which is highlighted by Back to School NightFireworks Show on August 22, Fan Appreciation Night/Fireworks Show on the 23rd, and Tykes Club on the 24th! 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.
Canadian American League Stories from August 12, 2008
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