MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com -Little Falls, NJ – The Worcester Tornadoes used a pair of home runs and seven solid innings by starter Ryan Lobban to defeat the New Jersey Jackals 7-3 on Friday night at Yogi Berra Stadium.

Lobban (4-1) allowed two runs – one earned – on nine hits with one walk and five strikeouts to earn the win. Jackals’ southpaw Stuart Pomeranz (3-2) suffered the loss after surrendering six runs – there earned – on five this with four walks and six strikeouts in six innings.

Worcester opened up the scoring in the top of the first inning when left fielder Vinny Pennell led off with an infield single and shortstop Garrett Olson reached on an error by third baseman Mike Scanzano. After Pomeranz retired the next two batters, right fielder Carlos Sosa lifted his second home run of the season to right field to give the Tornadoes a 3-0 lead.
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In the bottom of the first, the Jackals countered with two runs against Lobban. After second baseman Marcus Sanders reached on a throwing error and left fielder Ryan Rogowski singled, New Jersey pulled off a double steal to place runners on second and third. That enabled shortstop Mike DeJesus to single home Sanders and cut the deficit to 3-1. Jackals’ right fielder Myron Leslie followed with a sacrifice fly to make it a 3-2 contest.

That score held until the top of the third, when Worcester third baseman Chris Colabello pulled his second home run of the season just inside the left field foul pole to extend the Tornadoes’ lead to 5-2.

Worcester added a run in the seventh on a wild pitch by reliever Mark Suchowiecki. The Tornadoes extended their lead to 7-2 in the eight on a Heath Keel sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the ninth, New Jersey loaded the bases with no outs against reliever Albert Ayala, but the Jackals plated just one run in the inning on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Sanders.

Jackals’ reliever Kevin Gunter chipped in with two scoreless innings out of the bullpen. In the loss, New Jersey outhit Worcester 10-0 while stealing three bases. For the Tornadoes, Olson finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

The Jackals and Tornadoes continue their five-game series on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. at Yogi Berra Stadium when New Jersey sends left-hander Dave Qualben (2-2, 2.38 ERA) to the mound for his fifth start of the season against Worcester right-hander Alex Pena (2-2, 6.21 ERA). Cody Chrusciel and Joey Whelan have the call with the live webcast beginning 15 minutes prior to first pitch at www.jackals.com.

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