Connecticut Defenders Drop Home Opener At Dodd
Published on April 13, 2007 under Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
Friday night's home opener to the Trenton Thunder 2-0. The first game of the series saw a pitching battle in every aspect. RHP Jeff Marquez led the charge on the mound for the Thunder, while RHP Ben Cox was his counterpart leading the way for the Defenders. Both pitchers got off to fast starts as Ben Cox mowed down the first 8 batters he faced in order. Jeff Marquez would be equally impressive, retiring 6 of 8 batters to start the game for the Thunder. The two would combine to keep it scoreless through 4 innings, but in the 5th inning that would change. The number nine hitter, Matt Carson, would step in the box with a runner on and one out. Ben Cox threw an 0-1 pitch that hung up in the zone and Carson hammered it over the left field wall, clearing 3 levels of signs and putting the Thunder ahead 2-0.
That would prove to be the difference maker as both bullpens would not allow a single run to cross the plate for the remainder of the game. Defenders Alex Hinshaw and Justin Hedrick would combine for 4 innings of shutout relief as the final 11 batters of the game for the Trenton Thunder were put down in order. But as was the story all night, the Thunder bullpen matched the effort, with Scott Patterson and Gerardo Casadiego combining for 3 scoreless innings in relief. The last Defenders hit was a 1-out double by John Bowker in the third inning.
Jeff Marquez (W, 2-0) went 6 strong innings, giving up just 4 hits, walking 1 batter and striking out 3, without surrendering a run. He would secure his second victory of the season. Casadiego (S,1) worked a 1-2-3 inning in the 9th to notch his first save of the season. For the Defenders, Ben Cox (L, 0-1) pitched 5 full innings, giving up 2 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks, with 5 strikeouts. He would take home the loss. The Connecticut Defenders will host the Trenton Thunder in a double header tomorrow, Saturday April 14, beginning at 2:05 pm
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