Trezza Caps Four-Run Eighth in 4-3 Win
August 31, 2011 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
The Tornadoes scored four runs in the eighth inning off of Boulders set-up man Casey Hodges and closer Adrian Martin in a 4-3 come-from-behind win on Wednesday to finish the home portion of the regular season on Wednesday. The victory kept Worcester half a game ahead of Brockton for the fourth and final playoff spot, and 1.5 games back of New Jersey for the second-half lead.
Worcester was outhit 13-7 and was held scoreless through the first seven frames by starting pitcher Jon Velasquez. In his third outing this season against the Tornadoes, he allowed three hits, two walks and five strikeouts while retiring Worcester in order three separate times. He got the no decision, as did Hodges. Hodges pitched one third of an inning, allowing two hits and a walk plus three earned runs. Martin got the blown save and the loss, giving up two hits and the game-winning run.
Tony Patane led off the bottom of the eighth with a strikeout against Hodges, going down looking on a curveball. On a payoff pitch, Cameron Monger hit an infield single. Alex Nunez doubled him home to break the shutout for the Rockland pitching staff. Abraham Nunez walked, and that spelled the end of the night for the righty reliever.
Chris Colabello hit an infield single to load the bases for Worcester, then Mark Minicozzi walked with the bases loaded to make it 3-2 Boulders. Alex Trezza hit a one-hopper that eeked through the hole on the right side of the infield, scoring both Abraham Nunez and Colabello, with Chirs sliding in just ahead of the tag to score the go-ahead run.
Albert Ayala pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, earning his fifth save in six chances. He struck out Jeremy Slayden to start the frame and Norm Hutchins to end the game.
Luis Pardo got a no-decision in six effective innings, allowing just one run on eight hits and a couple of walks. He struck out seven opposing hitters and left the game trailing 1-0.
Matt McDonald came in next for Worcester, pitching 1.1 innings. He gave up five hits and two runs.
Mike Mullen earned his first professional victory by notching 0.2 innings of relief. He inherited a runner on third and kept him that way, inducing a couple of ground outs with a walk sandwiched in between them.
The Boulders scored their runs in the first, seventh and eighth innings. Ray Stokes led off the game with a double, advanced to third on a single and came home when Jeremy Slayden hit into a 6-4-3 double play. Chase Weems led off the seventh with a double, took third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Ryan Mollica's RBI single. Cristobal Santana had a run-scoring triple to plate Cole Kraft ahead of him in the second-to-last trip up for the visiting team.
The win gave the Tornadoes their second four-game sweep of the season. They finished the year 10-4 against the Boulders in their first year of existence. After an off-day Thursday, the Worcester club with travel to Quebec City, Quebec for a five-game series over four days. The first pitch on Friday is at 5:30pm for game one of the doubleheader. Pre-game audio coverage starts at 5:15 on USTREAM.
Canadian American League Stories from August 31, 2011
- Can-Am League Results - Can-Am
- Woods dazzles as Rox end skid - Brockton Rox
- Trezza Caps Four-Run Eighth in 4-3 Win - Worcester Tornadoes
- Rox Edge Colonials - Pittsfield Colonials
- Pittsfield Rides Four Run First To 7-3 Win Over Brockton - Brockton Rox
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
