BURRUS GOES 4-FOR-4, BUT SURF CAN’T SOLVE TORNADOES
June 22 Recap

Atlantic City, N.J. – The Worcester Tornadoes used three hits from RF Scott Grimes and a solid outing from starter Tom Cochran to register a 5-2 victory over the Atlantic City Surf on Sunday evening at Bernie Robbins Stadium in a Can-Am League contest.

The Surf drew first blood on DH Clyde Williams’ RBI groundout in the fourth, giving the home squad a 1-0 lead. Worcester wouldn’t put a run on the board until the sixth, when 1B Chris Colabello’s sacrifice fly tied the game. The Tornadoes then took the lead for good with three runs in the seventh on 2B Omar Pena’s sacrifice fly and DH Jeff LaHair’s two-run home run, the first homer of the year given up by Surf starter Brian Rodaway.

Atlantic City (14-15) made it a 4-2 game with RF Josh Burrus’ (pictured) solo homer in the bottom of the seventh, but Worcester responded with an insurance run in the top of the eighth on Grimes’ solo blast, the game’s final tally.

Cochran (5-0) registered the victory for the Tornadoes, improving his record to 5-0 and tying him for the league lead in wins. The lefthander went eight innings, giving up two runs on six hits and striking out two. Ryan Lobban earned his second save of the season and the series with a scoreless ninth inning.

Grimes improved his average to a league-leading .447 with his 3-for-4 evening. CF B.J. Weed, C Alex Trezza and SS Chuck Jeroloman all went 2-for-4 for Worcester.

Rodaway (3-2), the league’s E.R.A. leader entering the game, took the loss for the Surf, allowing four runs on nine hits in seven innings of work, striking out four. Burrus had four of the Surf’s six hits, and was a triple short of the cycle.

With the victory, Worcester (19-9) completed the series sweep and took over sole possession of first place in the league, as Quebec was edged by Sussex, 17-2, this afternoon.

The Surf start a four-game series with Nashua on Monday evening, with Atlantic City’s J.C. Huguet (3-0) facing the Pride’s German Melendez (1-1).