Tag Archives: Alex Nunez

Jun 27 2012

Three Outs: Recapping Grand Prairie-Worcester (Indy Baseball)

Against the Grand Prairie AirHogs, Worcester’s Jerod Edmonson recorded five hits, three doubles, and four RBIs. (Photo Credit: Matt Noonan for Noontime Sports)

By Matt Noonan 

WORCESTER, MA – On Wednesday, the Worcester Tornadoes concluded their three-game series with the Grand Prairie AirHogs with a 4-3 loss. The game marked the end of their six-game home stand, which featured three games against the Newark Bears.

The Tornadoes are now 1-2 in interleague play against the American Association, and will return to the diamond on Friday when they travel to Texas to face Laredo.

Here are three takeaways from their last three contests against the AirHogs.

1.) Grand Prairie’s Excellent Bullpen: On Tuesday and Wednesday, the AirHogs relied on their various relievers to earn two critical road wins. And while they had to rally to secure leads, which they never relinquished, their bullpen arms halted Worcester’s offense with eight strikeouts and one earned run.

2.) The Edmonson-Trezza Offensive Connection: Despite only earning one win in a span of three days, Worcester’s offense relied on veterans Jerod Edmonson and Alex Trezza. Both players combined for 11 hits, seven RBIs, five runs, five doubles and one home run against the AirHogs, but that still didn’t help the Tornadoes during their final two games against Grand Prairie.

3.) Nunez Loses Fire: It’s very easy to state that Alex Nunez has been the spark of the Tornadoes offense, especially over the past few days. Yet, against the AirHogs on Wednesday, he struggled at the dish. He stepped up to the plate four times, but didn’t manage to muster a hit or run or RBI. Nunez hasn’t experienced a day with the Tornadoes where he hasn’t produced, so it’ll certainly be interesting to see how he responds on Friday.

May 26 2011

Falu, Smith Lifts Brockton Past Worcester in Home Opener

Melvin Falu drove had Two RBI's in the Rox first win of the season.

By Brian Willwerth 

BROCKTON, MA — Bill Buckner’s managerial career is off to a good start.

Melvin Falu had three hits, and the Brockton Rox got a solid outing from Mike Smith as they won their season opener over the Worcester Tornadoes, 3-1, Thursday night at Campanelli Stadium.

Smith worked the first five innings, allowing just one run on five hits. He worked his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the second.

The Rox scored their first run of the season in the bottom of the second, when catcher Chris Grossman launched a home run over the left field wall off Worcester starting pitcher Zach Zuercher. Brockton doubled its lead in the third when Falu singled home Dominic Ramos.

In the fifth, the Tornadoes broke through when Alex Nunez doubled to right-center, just out of the reach of a diving Chris Valencia. Boomer Blanchard, who was running on the pitch, scored all the way from first to cut the lead to 2-1.

The Rox answered in the bottom of the inning when Falu drove in his second run of the game. His line-drive single to left plated Ramos again with the third Brockton run. There would be no more scoring the rest of the way.

“Like I always say, I like to play [the] best I can,” Falu said. “I [drove him home], so thank you.”

In the eighth, the Tornadoes had the tying runs in scoring position, but Rox reliever Jake Hale got Alex Fernandez to ground out to first to end the threat.

Travis Hughes retired the side in order in the ninth for the save.

For Worcester, Zuercher went 5 1/3 innings, allowing 9 hits and 3 runs, while Nick Salotti led the offense with a pair of hitsAfter spending two decades in the major leagues, Buckner, 61, who experienced great success with 2,700 hits, can now add an additional milestone to his baseball journey, his first career victory as a manger.

The Rox improved to [7-3] on opening day and had lost their last three openers prior to Thursday night.

The Rox and Tornadoes will meet again Friday night at Campanelli Stadium for a 7:05pm start.