Tornadoes walk off with 6-5 win over Sussex

Published on May 29, 2008 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release


WORCESTER - After battling Sussex back-and-forth all night, Chuck Jeroloman gave Worcester the thrilling 6-5 win with a walk-off RBI single, sending 2,111 Tornadoes' fans home happy in the Home Opener at Fitton Field on Thursday evening.

Jeroloman's single, his first hit of the contest, broke the game's third tie. Four Tornadoes finished with multiple hits, led by B.J. Weed's three-hit performance. Junior Guerrero was strong on the mound, pitching six innings and only giving up three runs (all earned) on five hits. Tom Cochran was unhittable in relief, pitching a perfect eighth and ninth for his first win of the year.

Scott Grimes started the ninth-inning rally with a leadoff double. After Chris Colabello was hit by the pitch, Alex Trezza bunted the runners to second and third. Francisco Caraballo was then intentionally walked, setting the stage for Jeroloman's heroics.

Sussex broke the ice with two quick runs in the top of the first inning. After battling back from an 0-2 hole, Kevin Rios drew what proved to be a crucial walk as two batters later, Alex Frazier hit a monster two-run home run over the wall in left field. Worcester answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the inning when Trezza hit a sacrifice fly to score Weed.

With two on in the bottom of the third, Colabello hit a rocket that eluded Skyhawks third baseman Jay Yaconetti. Colabello's second hit in three innings scored Mike MacMillan, good for the 2-2 score. In the fourth, Worcester took its first lead of the game when Weed hit a riser that found its way over a leaping Rios at shortstop to score Jeroloman for the 3-2 advantage.

The back-and-forth game continued when Sussex tallied a run in the fifth to tie the game at three. Just like the first, Frazier hit a rocket to left field, but this time, it wasn't enough to clear the wall. The Tornadoes avoided any further damage when they executed a perfect relay to gun down the potential go-ahead run at the plate.

Worcester responded with its first multiple-run inning of the evening. After Trezza was hit by the pitch, Caraballo drove him in with a triple down the left field line. Jeroloman followed with a sacrifice fly for the insurance run, making it 5-3.

Coming into the game, the Tornadoes' bullpen hadn't allowed a run in 16.1 consecutive innings. The Skyhawks ended that when Ryan Lobban allowed a pair in the top of the seventh, tying the game at five. Ron Perodin started by hitting a triple down the right field line to score Chris Brown. Rios then singled in Perodin for the five-all deadlock.

The Tornadoes continue their seven-game homestand on Friday with another 6:05 p.m. tilt vs. Sussex. Ryan Mitchell takes the ball for his first start of the season. He is opposed by Edysbel Benitez. Along with a Magnetic Schedule giveaway, it also marks the first fireworks display of the season. For tickets, call the Tornadoes' office at 508-792-2288 or crash the web at www. worcestertornadoes.com. All 94 regular season games and all three preseason exhibition 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 May 29, 2008


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