The game was relatively quiet through the first five and a half innings, with Worcester grinding out the game’s only score on a run-scoring double play in the third.

The Rox took the lead in the sixth on LF Mike Conroy’s two-run blast, the first home run by a Brockton player this season. The Tornadoes then roared back with four runs in the seventh on SS Omar Pena’s two-out grand slam off of Rox starter Mike Wlodarczyk, making the score 5-2 in favor of the visitors.

Brockton quickly closed the gap in the bottom half of the frame, with SS Dominic Ramos scoring on an error before RF Keith Brachold hit a game-tying two-run home run.

The game stayed 5-5 until Asadoorian’s home run in the ninth. Brockton threatened in the ninth when 2B Derek Kinzler hit a one-out single, but he was subsequently thrown out trying to stretch it into a doube.

Both starters received no-decisions in the games. In his first start of the season, Wlodarczyk was splendid through his first six innings of work, limiting the Tornadoes to the lone run on three hits. He fanned 11 Worcester hitters in total. Matt McDonald was sharp for Worcester, giving up two runs on four hits with three strikeouts in six innings.

Albert Ayala (1-0) received the win for the Tornadoes, while Colin Lynch took the loss in the rubber game of the series.

Conroy led the Brockton hitting attack with a 2-for-3 afternoon, while Asadoorian and Pena both had two hits for Worcester.

The Rox start a nine-day road trip with a 1:05 p.m. contest at Sussex on Monday afternoon, with Freddy Flores on the mound against Tim Stringer.

After the two teams sat through a one hour, thirty-five minute rain delay before the game, Brockton took a lead that it would never relinquish with a four-run second inning, aided by three Worcester errors and a bases-clearing single from Brachold.

Worcester (1-1) responded with a pair of runs in the third on RBI singles from 2B Mark Minicozzi and 1B Nick Salotti, but the Rox came back with two more runs in their half of the frame to take a 6-2 lead.

The score remained that way until the sixth when Brockton (1-1) broke the game wide open, plating five runs courtesy of a two-run single from Brachold and a bases-clearing double by 3B Phillip Cuadrado. The Rox finished their scoring in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by C Chris Grossman and a bases-loaded walk to SS Dominic Ramos, making it a 13-2 game. Worcester tacked on a single tally in the ninth for the game’s final run.

The offensive explosion overshadowed a good start for former major-leaguer Mike Smith, (1-0) who allowed two runs on six hits, fanning five in five and one-third innings of work. Buster Lussier had an excellent outing out of the bullpen in relief for Smith, fanning three and allowing no runs in two and two-thirds innings. Baron Short (0-1) was saddled with the loss for Worcester, giving up six runs in five innings.

One night after mustering just five singles in the season-opening 3-2 loss, five different Brockton players had multiple-hit evenings. Cuadrado was 3-for-4 with four RBI, while Valencia, Grossman and 1B Melvin Falu had a pair of hits each. LF Vinny Pennell, Minicozzi and Salotti each had two-hit nights for the Tornadoes.

The two clubs will meet in the rubber match of the three-game set on Sunday at 1:05 p.m., with Brockton lefthander Mike Wlodarczyk toeing the slab in his first start of the season against Worcester’s John Kelly. It’s the first Sunday Family Fun Day of the year at the ballpark, with kids playing catch on the field before the game and running the bases afterward.

**********

Worcester      002 000 001 – 3 11 4

Brockton         042 005 200 – 13 15 0

W: Smith (1-0)  L: Short (0-1).  S: None.

HR: None.

Time: 3:10. A: 1,396.

The two teams played scoreless baseball until Worcester brought home two runs on back-to-back two-out RBI singles from CF Billy Cather and LF Vinny Pennell in the fifth. The Rox responded with a tally in their half of the frame as SS Dominic Ramos drove in LF Mike Conroy with a sacrifice fly.

Brockton (0-1) was able to engineer the game-tying run in the sixth when CF Chris Valencia singled, stole second, went to third on RF Keith Brachold’s groundout, and came home on 1B Melvin Falu’s groundout to short.

Worcester (1-0) quickly responded with the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh; 2B Mark Minicozzi drove in RF Eric Asadoorian on a two-out RBI single off of reliever Santo Maertz (0-1) for the eventual game-winner. The Rox bats went quietly the rest of the way, managing just one hit off of relievers Albert Ayala and John Slusarz, who registered the save.

Chris Farley (1-0) earned the victory for the Tornadoes, allowing two runs on four hits in six innings of work.

Worcester C Alex Trezza was the only player on either team with a multiple-hit evening, going 2-for-4 with a double. Valencia, Conroy, C Chris Grossman, Ramos and DH Scott Wearne all had hits for the Rox.

In his debut for Brockton, lefthander Dustin Birosak threw a scoreless inning and a third of relief.

The two teams will meet again on Saturday night at Campanelli Stadium at 6:05 p.m. Brockton RHP Mike Smith will face Tornadoes RHP Baron Short.

–agate—

Worcester      000 020 100 – 3 9 0

Brockton         000 011 000 – 2 5 0

W: Farley (1-0).  L: Maertz (0-1).  S: Slusarz (1).

HR: None.

Time: 2:32. A: 3,010.

“Cover the Bases” will run from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. The grand prize winner will receive 2010 season tickets for a family of four to the Worcester Tornadoes, as well as family memberships to the EcoTarium, Higgins Armory Museum and Old Sturbridge Village. Other winners will receive a family membership and/or season tickets to one of the four participating organizations.

The contest has been made possible through a grant from The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, Inc. which is dedicated to improving the quality of life in communities where The Hanover does business.

Beginning May 23, “Cover the Bases,” game cards will be available at any of the four participating locations. To play the game, a participant simply has to visit each of the four locations – representing the four bases on the baseball diamond – and have his/her card stamped.

Once the card has all four stamps, the participant returns the completed game card at any of the four locations and is entered to win more than a dozen prizes. Participants who hand in completed cards also will receive a token of acknowledgement that they completed the game and supported some of Worcester County’s finest destinations.

“Cover the Bases” game cards also will serve as discount coupons at each location, providing $2 off the cost of individual entry for up to four people.

“Worcester County really hits it out of the park when it comes to having something to satisfy every cultural appetite,” said Linda McGowan, president, The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation. “We want to encourage individuals and families alike to take advantage of these local gems, which not only entertain, but help to educate and enrich people of all ages.”

To kick off the contest Worcester Tornadoes mascot, Twister, will visit each location on Saturday, May 23, to hand out “Cover the Bases” game cards, sign autographs, take pictures and participate in some of the fun activities scheduled at each venue. His schedule is as follows: – Higgins Armory – Sat. May 23 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – EcoTarium – Sat. May 23 from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Old Sturbridge Village – Sat. May 23 from 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. For more information, please visit www.coverthebases.com or inquire at any of the participating organizations.

“The EcoTarium is very excited to take part in this collaborative effort. Cover the Bases offers a fun way for families to explore Worcester County’s unique array of family-friendly destinations,” said Steve Pitcher, president of the EcoTarium. “Go Tornadoes!”

“With the uncertain economy, people are looking for fun things to do close to home. ‘Cover the Bases’ gives families an incentive to re-visit area museums and take in a baseball game – giving them a chance to rediscover entertainment choices right here in Central Massachusetts,” said Ann Lindblad, director of marketing and communications at Old Sturbridge Village.

“Parents will always be searching for new and exciting experiences to share with their children. I believe the Cover the Bases game will allow those parents to visit four outstanding venues within a half hour drive of each other without breaking the family budget,” said Dave Peterson, vice president of sales and marketing, Worcester Tornadoes Professional Baseball.

“It’s not uncommon to hear local residents say, ‘Oh, I visit you when I have out-of-town guests.’ Cover the Bases puts Worcester’s family-friendly attractions back in the public eye for the entire summer,” said Nikki Andersen, executive director of the Higgins Armory Museum. “In fact, in challenging economic times, we’re some of the most cost-friendly options for families in central Massachusetts. With our changing programs, we’re worth visiting more than once this summer. Come visit, come often!”

Among those returning from the 2008 Tornadoes team are standout veteran catcher Alex Trezza and perennial record setter, first baseman Chris Colabello. In total, eight members of the, 58-36, 2008 Tornadoes returned for camp this year. Field Manager Rich Gedman and Coaches Roger LaFrancois and Ed Gallagher will put eight rookies to the test this spring, including UMASS-Boston standout Nick Conway, and Spencer, MA native Vinny Pennell.

The Tornadoes will split practice time between Hanover Insurance Park and the Extra Innings Auburn training facility. The team will also travel to the Dan Duquette Sports Academy in Pittsfield, MA for scrimmages before playing the American Defenders of New Hampshire in an exhibition game open to the general public for free at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field, Monday, May 25th at 6:00 pm.

The Worcester Tornadoes home opener is scheduled for June 4th at 7:05 pm and will feature the Tornadoes and the American Defenders in their first regular season series. With three sellouts already on the books the Worcester Tornadoes are looking forward to making their 5th anniversary season another championship season. For more information visit www.worcestertornadoes.com or call the Tornadoes Front Office at 508-792-2288.

Once again, the Tornadoes will invite both the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts to the ballpark for special games. Girl Scouts Day at the Tornadoes is June 7th and coincides with mascot Twister’s birthday celebration. Boy Scout Night is July 18th, and after the game the scouts will be invited to pitch a tent and camp in the outfield overnight. The popular Baseball In Education Day will take place at 11:00 AM on June 11th, and children will take part in activities designed to educate them about how baseball relates to subjects they study in school. That game is already sold out.

The Tornadoes have also added some brand new promotions to the early portion of the schedule. On June 19th the Tornadoes players will wear special jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game to benefit the March of Dimes Foundation. The following night, the Tornadoes will team up with the Worcester Police Gang Unit to present a high school home run derby at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field, followed at 7:05 by the Tornadoes game against Quebec. Fans can purchase one single admission ticket for both events on June 20th.

The Tornadoes have 3 giveaways already on the schedule. At the home opener on June 4th against New Hampshire, the Tornadoes will be giving away magnet schedules courtesy of Charter Communications. Saint Vincent Hospital will again sponsor a Tornadoes Baseball Cap Giveaway on June 23rd and also sponsor a Bobblehead giveaway on August 13th. This year’s bobblehead features popular on-field emcee, Peterman.

More promotions are scheduled to be unveiled during the season. The full promotional schedule will be available at the Worcester Tornadoes website, www.worcestertornadoes.com.

Single Game Tickets for the 2009 Worcester Tornadoes season go on sale Saturday, April 25th, at the Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field Ticket Office and online at www.worcestertornadoes.com. For details about Worcester Tornadoes promotions, tickets, group outings, and picnics call or stop by the Worcester Tornadoes Front Office located at 303 Main St. in downtown Worcester, MA.

Becoming one of the Tornadoes most dedicated fans entitles season ticket holders to a number of benefits that other fans aren’t offered. Wait-staff service, free parking, guaranteed giveaway items, merchandise coupons, and our unused ticket policy are only a few of the benefits offered for joining the Tornadoes this season- and now the added bonus of free groceries.

“In economic times like this, we are glad that we can offer a lower-priced venue for summer entertainment,” said Vice President of Sales and Marketing Dave Peterson. “We want to support our fans in return, and groceries are something that everyone needs.”

For a limited time, eligible Tornadoes fans simply shop at their favorite grocery store, send in their monthly receipts, and receive monthly grocery store gift cards. Limit one grocery certificate per household. Other exclusions may apply.

The Worcester Tornadoes are currently offering 2009 full and half season tickets. For details about the free grocery offer or to inquire about seating availability, please call the Worcester Tornadoes Ticket Manager Alise Wales at 508-792-2288 ext. 109 or email her at awales@worcestertornadoes.com.