WORCESTER, MA --- John Kelly (6-2) picked up his team leading sixth win and got plenty of support from his offense Tuesday night en route to a 12-3 Tornadoes victory. The win puts Worcester at 2-0 in the second half of the CanAm League season and for the first time in 2010, in sole possession of first place.



The stingy veteran Kelly hurled six innings of two run baseball while striking out four and was followed out of the bullpen by Shawn Gilblair (who completed his fourth consecutive scoreless outing) and Albert Ayala. Nick Asselin (1-7) took it on the cheek for New Jersey again against Worcester. The right hander was lit up eight runs, seven earned, over five and a third ballooning his ERA to 8.05. It was Asselin’s eighth straight loss to the Tornadoes dating back to 2009.



The black and orange laser show failed to score in just three innings during the contest and racked up eleven hits. Worcester scored its first two runs in the first and third, both on double play balls. Then Mark Minicozzi’s two-out two RBI single gave Worcester the lead for good. Backup backstop Craig Maddox launched his second homer of the season, a three run job, in the sixth followed by Danny Santiesteban’s second long ball of the night, a grand slam, in the seventh. The Tornadoes have hit five four-figure bombs this season; two in as many games.



Jackal manager Joe Calfapietra was ejected in the fifth inning for arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire Matt Criss.



In his first away start at HIP since 2008, former Tornado Ryan Lobban (3-1) will get the nod for NJ against Justin Knoff (1-0) for the home team. Game time is at 7:05pm at Fitton Field, coverage on WCRN at 7pm.