TRENTON, NJ- Trenton Thunder right-hander Brett Smith walked seven batters in five innings, but held the Curve offense hitless and was credited with a rain-shortened no-hitter as the Thunder took Wednesday's series opener, 10-0, at Waterfront Park. The game was called after just 4 1/2 innings because of rain.
Smith (7-4) is the first individual pitcher to toss a no-hitter against the Curve in franchise history. Altoona has been held hitless on two other occasions in club history -- April 19, 2000 and August 22, 2004, both against the Bowie Baysox -- but both involved more than one pitcher.
Included in Smith's seven walks were three straight during a downpour in the top of the fifth inning, but he got Jason Bowers to hit into a 6-4-3 double play to the the inning before the tarp was brought out to cover the field.
The Thunder posted seven runs in the top of the third inning and three more in the fifth to provide plenty of run support for Smith, who bounced back after suffering the loss in Trenton's 11-2 defeat against Altoona in game two of last Thursday's doubleheader at Blair County Ballpark.
Mike Crotta (0-1), who was called up from Low Class-A Hickory to make the start for Altoona, was tagged with the loss in his Double-A debut after allowing seven runs -- three earned -- on five hits in just 2 2/3 innings.
Reliever Brandon Williams, who also made his Double-A debut for the Curve, was touched up for all three Trenton runs in the fourth. Williams was added to the Curve roster from short-season State College earlier in the day to become the first player to appear for both the Spikes and Curve.
The Curve (42-40) and Thunder (51-32) will continue their three-game set Thursday night at Waterfront Park. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. Yoslan Herrera (3-5, 5.09) will take the mound for Altoona, while Trenton will counter with E.L. All-Star Game selection, right-hander Jeff Marquez (8-5, 3.29).
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