Tornadoes Take Home Opener 5-3 over Capitales
May 21, 2012 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
The Worcester Tornadoes let a 3-1 lead slip away but grabbed their second victory in three days behind home runs from Brandon Pinckney and Johnny Welch in a 5-3 win at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field.
Playing in front of the home crowd of the first time, the Tornadoes bats woke midway through the game in support of the team's rotation. Five Tornadoes pitchers combined to allow just three runs, two earned, and struck out 15 Capitales batters.
Starting pitcher Phil Negus made his first career start for the Tornadoes and gave up just one run, on two hits and two walks in five innings. The right-hander struck out nine Capitales and worked out of a bases-load jam in the first inning to earn the no-decision. Michael Gedman got the win in relief, allowing a home run in the seventh between his two strikeouts. Nick Serino earned his first save, allowing one walk and striking out one in the ninth. Relievers Michael Bourdon and Matt McDonald each pitched an inning for the Tornadoes.
Pinckney had another big game with two hits, including a double and a home run. Right fielder Cameron Monger added a two-run single and Welch added another run on top of his second home run of the season.
Les Capitales jumped out to an early edge behind a home run to left field by their designated hitter Paul Karmas to lead off the top of the second inning. It would be the final hard hit ball against Negus, who cruised through five innings of work before being relieved after 82 pitches.
Three innings later the Tornadoes responded in a big way. Welch led off with a walk and Brendon Kelliher and J.B. Brown followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases. Monger added the big hit of the inning with a sharp single to right field that scored two, but he was caught between first and second for the first out. Pinckney followed with a double down the third base line that plated Brown but it would be all the Tornadoes would get in the fifth.
Quebec tied it up in the seventh, after Josh Colafemina had an RBI fielders-choice and Sebastien Boucher hit a home run to left field to tie the game at 3.
The game wouldn't stay tied for long, as Pinckney sliced a ball through the mist and wind over the left field fence to give the Tornadoes a 4-3 lead. Welch added an insurance run in the eight, when he crushed a home run to dead center to make it 5-3.
Serino finished off the Capitales with a quick inning to give the Tornadoes the win over the three-time defending champions.
The Tornadoes will be back in action Tuesday with a doubleheader scheduled for 11:05 a.m. and 7:05 p.m. Zach Zuercher will be on the mound for Game One and Ryan Bicondoa will start the nightcap. The gates will open for the first game at 10 a.m.
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Canadian American League Stories from May 21, 2012
- Tornadoes Take Home Opener 5-3 over Capitales - Worcester Tornadoes
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