PENA SHUTS DOWN JACKALS AS TORNADOES TAKE SERIES WITH 8-2 WIN

Worcester, MA – The Worcester Tornadoes used a pair of home runs and a solid outing by starter Alex Pena to defeat the New Jersey Jackals 8-2 on Sunday afternoon at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field.

Pena (3-3) turned in his best outing of the season, allowing two runs on three hits in seven innings. The 31-year-old right-hander struck out five batters without surrendering a walk.

In the bottom of the second inning, Worcester second baseman Jeff LaHair lifted his first home run of the season to center field with center fielder Heath Keel aboard to give the Tornadoes a 2-0 lead against Jackals’ starter Ted Serro.

The Tornadoes added a pair of runs in the fifth inning to gain a 4-0 advantage. After LaHair led off with a walk, leadoff hitter Vinny Pennell laid down a sacrifice bunt but Serro’s throw to first was high, allowing LaHair to advance to third and Pennell to reach second. A ground ball off the bat of shortstop Garrett Olson plated LaHair from third before an RBI single by third baseman Chris Colabello sent Pennell plateward.

In the top of the sixth inning, Jackals’ right fielder Myron Leslie singled through the right side of the infield with two outs before first baseman Juan Tejeda homered to center. Tejeda’s fourth home run of the season cut the New Jersey deficit to 4-2.

However, the Tornadoes struck Jackals’ reliever Mark Suchowiecki for four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to extend their lead to 8-2. After back-to-back doubles by Olson and Colabello made it an 5-2 contest, first baseman Nick Salotti unloaded a three-run home run, his second of the season, to right field to cap the scoring.

In his bid for a league-leading fifth win of the season, Serro (4-2) took the loss after allowing four runs – three earned – on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts in six innings. In the loss, rookie left-hander Mike Lorentson made his professional debut for New Jersey and allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth inning.

With the win, the Tornadoes improve to 17-17 while the Jackals fall to 23-13 with 11 games remaining in the first half. Despite dropping two of three to Worcester this weekend, the Jackals still hold a 6-4 advantage in the season series. New Jersey entered the day with a 5 ½ game lead over the second-place Quebec Capitales.

The Jackals enjoy an off day on Monday but return to the field on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. to begin a three-game series against the Sussex Skyhawks at Yogi Berra Stadium. Left-hander Isaac Pavlik (3-1, 3.71 ERA) will make the start for New Jersey in the series opener. Cody Chrusciel and Joey Whelan have the call with the live webcast beginning 10 minutes prior to first pitch at www.jackals.com.

The New Jersey Jackals, proud members of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, play their home games at Yogi Berra Stadium located on the campus of Montclair State University in Little Falls, NJ. 2009 season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling 973-746-7434. Visit the Jackals online at www.jackals.com.