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Murton's Walk-Off Hit Ends Trenton's Comeback Win vs. Akron

May 24, 2012 - Eastern League (EL) Trenton Thunder

(Trenton, NJ) - Luke Murton's walk-off single in the ninth ended a comeback from 3-0 behind that turned into a 4-3 victory over the Akron Aeros Thursday night in front of 4,104 fans at Waterfront Park. Cody Johnson starred again in the win, tying the game with his league-leading 12th home run, then setting up the winning run with a leadoff double in the ninth.

With the score tied at 3 entering the bottom of the ninth, Johnson clubbed a Toru Murata (0-1) pitch past the twisting right-fielder Ben Copeland to put the winning run in scoring position. Johnson was then replaced by pinch-runner Jose Pirela and Akron elected to intentionally walk Zoilo Almonte.

With two on and none out, the Aeros brought in right-hander Bryan Price to pitch to Murton, who squared to sacrifice before the first pitch was thrown. Murton, however, never bunted at a pitch, taking two balls from Price to get ahead in the count 2-and-0. He then lined the game-winning hit to center scoring Pirela from second base.

The hit made a winner out of Ryan Flannery (1-1) who pitched 1.1 scoreless innings as part of a standout effort by the Trenton bullpen. Flannery, Kelvin Perez and Lee Hyde combined for 4.1 scoreless relief innings after starter Adam Miller left the game with Akron head 3-0.

Aeros starter Giovanni Soto kept the Trenton bats quiet through five innings, but Addison Maruszak led off the sixth with his first home run of the season. Then after David Adams singled with two outs, Johnson lined his second home run in as many nights, a two-run shot to right that made the score 3-3. It is the fourth time this season the lefty has homered in consecutive games, and the tenth time this the Thunder have hit multiple long balls in an inning.

The Thunder next head to Richmond for a four-game Memorial Day weekend series against the Flying Squirrels. Game one Friday night will have a 6:35 pm first pitch with lefty Shaeffer Hall (4-4) slated to pitch for the Thunder against righty Craig Westcott (3-4). Radio coverage on 91.3 FM (WTSR) and also streaming online begins at 6:20 pm.

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Eastern League Stories from May 24, 2012


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