Stevenson, Cotham Help Thunder Top Cats, 5-1
April 9, 2013 - Eastern League (EL1)
Trenton Thunder News Release
(Manchester, NH) - Utilityman Casey Stevenson went 4-for-4 with three RBI and Caleb Cotham shined in his Double-A debut as the Trenton Thunder topped the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 5-1, Tuesday night at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium to even the three-game series at one win apiece. One night after the Thunder allowed 15 runs to the Fisher Cats, Cotham (1-0) combined with two relievers to limit New Hampshire to one run on seven hits.
Stevenson, playing only his second game with the Thunder, smacked four clean singles in as many at-bats. His two-run hit in the second inning against New Hampshire starter Austin Bibens-Dirkx (1-1) put Trenton ahead 2-0. Bibens-Dirks would not allow another run, and would complete seven full innings on 100 pitches.
Cotham, the fifth starter in the Trenton rotation at the beginning of the season, allowed a two-out RBI single to John Tolisano in the bottom of the second but then allowed only two further hits over the remainder of his outing. He fanned five and allowed five hits, while Jeremy Bleich then pitched three shutout innings of relief and Tommy Kahnle tossed a scoreless ninth.
The Thunder added some insurance runs late against reliever Trystan Magnuson, scoring twice in the eighth and once more in the ninth. Jose Pirela plated J.R. Murphy with a two-out triple in the eighth to make the score 3-1, and Stevenson followed with his fourth single to bring home Pirela. Stevenson now has five RBI in two games played this season.
Murphy went 3-for-5 with two runs scored for the Thunder. Tolisano, who was charged with three errors playing second base, went 2-for-3 with a walk to pace the Fisher Cats attack.
The rubber match of the series will be an early start Wednesday, with first pitch scheduled for 10:35 am on an Educational Day at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. Left-hander Nik Turley (0-0, 13.50) is expected to start for Trenton while New Hampshire counters with righty Marcus Walden (0-1, 4.15). Radio coverage on 91.3 FM (WTSR), 1490 AM (WBCB) and also streaming online begins at 10:20 am.
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