Viera silences Tornadoes, Rox take three out of four
July 3, 2006 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release
When a team musters only a combined eleven runs in its last five games, a manager can only hope that shaking things up will provide a much needed spark. Accordingly, the Tornadoes' skipper Rich Gedman shuffled the lineup, as he moved Austin Wasserman and Tucker Frawley into the top two spots, and inserted pitcher Alex Pena as his designated hitter. Despite these changes, the Tornadoes were kept off balance the entire night by Brockton starting pitcher Rolando Viera, who finished his outing having allowed only four hits, along with seven strikeouts, over seven innings of work.
In the top of the first inning, the Rox jumped out to an early 3-0 leading on the strength of four consecutive hits. Mike Scanzano would come around to score the first run of the game as Francisco Lebron laced a 2-2 pitch up the middle for an RBI single. After Zach Strong singled down the left field line, Kris Zacuto provided the second big blow of the inning, smoking a ball to left for an RBI single of his own. Brockton would add its final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Mike Torres.
In the second Willet hit Brad Rosenblat in the shoulder and then walked the third hitter of the inning, Guye Senjem. With two men on, the former Tornado Strong strolled to the plate and subsequently delivered his second single of the game, this one good for his 14th RBI of the season.
Reliver Elvis Jiminez entered the game in the third inning. After retiring the first hitter of the inning on an outstanding over-the-shoulder grab by the right fielder Wasserman, Jiminez walked Joe Hough and proceeded to give up a shot in the left-center field gap to Eugene Julien that went for an RBI double.
Jiminez kept the Rox off the scoreboard, allowing only two hitters to reach base, both on walks. The extent of Jiminez's dominance was best illustrated by his retiring the bottom third of the Rox lineup on only four pitches in the seventh inning. Chris Shank came on in the eighth and gave up one run on two hits.
Held at bay the entire night by Brockton, the Tornadoes finally showed some life in the bottom of the ninth inning. Reliever Santos Gonzalez, in his second inning of work, was greeted rudely by Chris Colabello, who led off the inning with a line-drive single up the middle. Onix Mercado followed with a single of his own, advancing Colabello to second base. With two men on, Rich Gedman sent Keith Beauregard up to pinch hit for Pena, who had been hitless on the night. Beauregard came through with a well-placed hit that went just beyond the reach of the second basemen, allowing Colabello to come around with the first run of the game for the Tornadoes. After Bob Tewksbary lined out, Jeff Lahair, who entering the game had the fourth best average in the league, singled into left field, scoring Mercado. With closer Jon Koch inserted the game, Lucas Taylor would knock in the third Tornado run with a sacrifice fly to centerfield. Koch was able to bear down and retire Wasserman for the final out of the game.
Having dropped three out of four to the Rox, the Tornadoes will look to get back on the winning track, as the team prepares to square off against the Nashua Pride with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM.
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Canadian American League Stories from July 3, 2006
- Viera silences Tornadoes, Rox take three out of four - Worcester Tornadoes
- Can-Am League recaps - Can-Am
- LHP Rolando Viera fires seven shutout innings - Brockton Rox
- Jackal win streak ends at three - New Jersey Jackals
- Farley leads Spirit past Jackals, 6-2 - North Shore Spirit
- New Jersey sweep Can-Am awards - Can-Am
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