Gordon's grand slam sparks late Redmen rally

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Gordon's grand slam sparks late Redmen rally

Published: 21 September 2010

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DOLLARD DES ORMEAUX, Que. 听- Centrefielder Adam Gordon of Dollard des Ormeaux, Que., hit a two-out grand-slam home run in the top of the sixth inning as visiting McGill came from behind to double John Abbott College 8-4 at Lake Road Park in the West Island region of Montreal, Tuesday.

The result extended McGill's perfect record to 8-0 at the mid-way mark of the Canadian Intercollegiate Baseball Association season.

Trailing 3-0, the Redmen rallied with a pair of runs in the fifth. They broke the goose-egg when infielder Max Tierno of Manhattan, N.Y., scored from third on Casey Auerbach's double-play ball hit to the right side. Then Gordon struck out but reach first on a dropped third strike. His brother Josh Gordon singled and left-fielder Ted Davis of North Andover, Mass., delivered an RBI single to narrow the gap to 3-2.

In the fateful sixth inning, Daniel Porter struck out and Alex Chouinard grounded out to the pitcher but Daniel Kost-Stephenson of Westmount, Que., came in to pinch-hit and gave McGill some hope when he reached first on a hit-by-pitch. Tierno reached on an error by the shortstop, setting the table for an Alex Day RBI-double to right, which knotted the score at 3-3. Day, the starting shortstop from Toronto, ended up going 2-for-4 at the plate with a walk, two RBIs and a run scored.

With runners on second and third, the Islanders elected to load the bases by walking Auerbach. Gordon worked the count to 2-2, then hammered a curve ball into the left-field bleachers to put the Redmen ahead 7-3.

"It was a no doubt grand-slammer," said Auerbach, a veteran from Westmount. "He knew it right away and so did I watching from first base. Obviously in retrospect, walking me to get to Gordon was a questionable decision."

Starting pitcher Justin Simon registered the win. He scattered four hits over five innings of work, allowing only two earned runs, while walking six, striking out five and hitting one batter. Simon was relieved for the last two innings by Brian Cook.

McGill only gets a half-day to enjoy the miraculous conquest as they return to action Wednesday night (Sept. 22, 8 p.m.) against Concordia in their annual Fan Night affair at Pierre Elliot Trudeau Park in Cote St. Luc. The Redmen have arranged for a couple of fan buses to leave the Roddick Gates in front of McGill's downtown campus. Tickets for the return trip cost only $5 and include entry to the game. Reservations can be made by calling Noah Leszcz at 514-919-8200.

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BOXSCORE:

McGill 8, John Abbott College 4

TEAM: 听听R 听听H听听 E听听 LOB

McGill: 听听听8听听8听听 2听听听11

JAC: 听听听听听听4 听听5 听听听2 听听听10

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WP: Justin Simon, McGill (start; 5 IP: 3R, 2ER, 4H, 5K, 6BB, 1HBP)

RP: Brian Cook, McGill (2 IP: 1ER, 1H, 2K, 2BB)

LP: Dustin White, John Abbott College

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BATTING ORDER