The Tornadoes continue their seven-game homestand tonight when they face off against the New Jersey Jackals for a thee-game set. New Jersey comes into the series in second place in the Canadian American League at 30-24, while the Tornadoes are happy to be done with their 17-game interleague play stretch where they finished 4-13.
1. Red-Hot Giarraputo: The Tornadoes pitching staff will have to be wary of Jackals third baseman Nick Giarraputo who has been the hottest hitter in the league through half a season. Giarraputo leads the league by more than 20 points in batting average at .365 and is second in home runs (17) and RBI (49). In yesterday’s 6-5 win over Rockland, Giarraputo hit a two-run home run in the first inning to help his team take a three-game lead over the Boulders. In three games against the Tornadoes this season, Giarraputo went 3-for-10 with a walk, an RBI and five strikeouts.
2. Making The Most of An Opportunity: Ryan Brockett has made the most of his chance with Brendon Kelliher out of the lineup with a right shoulder injury. The University of New Haven product has hit safely in six straight games dating back to the El Paso series and has made several strong plays in left field, including a game-ending catch along the left-field line on Friday night with two runners on and the Tornadoes lead at 2-1.
3. Southpaws Galore: New Jersey will throw three left-handed starting pitchers in the three-game series with Dustin Birosak, Craig Clark and Isaac Pavlik taking the mound but what does that mean? Johnny Welch, Brandon Pinckney and Chris Torres should be the biggest benefactors with all three hitting well over .400 on the year against lefties. Welch has hit .300 points better (.500 vs. .200) on the season against lefties with four of his 12 home runs in just 22 at bats. Pinckney is hitting .444 on the year with five extra-base hits in 18 at bats, while Torres is hitting .417.
4. Salotti’s Return: Nick Salotti will make his first appearance at Hanover Insurance Park in an opponent’s uniform when he takes the field this evening. The former Tornadoes first baseman played four seasons with Worcester in which he hit 46 home runs, 198 RBI and crossed the plate 159 times in 313 games with the team. Salotti has had a single hit in each of his first four games with the Jackals and hit a go-ahead home run in last night’s 6-5 win over the Boulders.
5. Can He Do It Again: Dan Sausville will take the mound in Game One for the Tornadoes looking to replicate his success from the first time these two teams faced in early June. Sausville threw Worcester’s only shutout of the season to date in a seven-inning doubleheader, limiting New Jersey to five hits in a 3-0 Tornadoes win. Since throwing the complete game shutout, Sausville is 0-6 with 33 earned runs allowed in 47.1 innings pitched.
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