Monell Claims Trenton Marathon for Squirrels, 7-5
Published on June 20, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release
Trenton, NJ - The Richmond Flying Squirrels (35-36) scored twice in the top of the 12th inning to dump the Trenton Thunder (40-29), 7-5, on Wednesday night at Waterfront Park. Richmond evened the series with the win, and improved to 8-2 in extra-inning ballgames.
Right-hander Michael Dubee entered in relief for the Thunder to start the 12th inning with the game tied, 5-5. Gary Brown led off with infield-single and was bunted to second base. The Thunder elected to walk Daniel Mayora to face Russ Mitchell. The tactic worked as Mitchell flew out, but Johnny Monell followed with a two-run double to the alley in left-center field. Dubee (2-2) was saddled with the loss for the Thunder.
Right-hander Daryl Maday earned his seventh save of the season by working a scoreless bottom of the 12th inning. Right-hander Brett Bochy (5-2) had worked two scoreless innings before the uprising. He earned the win in relief.
The Squirrels struck first with two unearned runs against lefty Vidal Nuno in the top of the second inning. An error on Trenton third baseman Addison Marusczak opened the door, as he misplayed a ground ball from Tommy Joseph. Juan Perez followed with a double to put runners at second and third. Ryan Cavan scored Joseph with a sacrifice fly, and Mark Minicozzi doubled to left-center field for a 2-0 lead.
The Thunder responded against right-hander Chris Heston in the bottom of the inning. Melky Mesa doubled into the left-field corner to lead off the frame. Heston recovered to strike out Luke Murton, but Marusczak atoned for his error with a two-run home run to left field. Marusczak's fifth of the season was the first home run allowed on the season by Heston. He had faced 315 hitters without allowing a home run.
Richmond grabbed the lead back with two more unearned runs in the third. Brown opened the inning with a single, and Nick Liles followed with a ground ball to second base. David Adams botched the play, allowing Brown to third base and Liles to second. Mayora then dumped a bloop-single into right field to plate Brown. A batter later, Joseph sent a sacrifice fly to center field for a 4-2 advantage.
Minicozzi sparked the Squirrels as they tacked on a run in the fourth. He supplied a one-out single against Nuno, which Juan Ciriaco followed with a single. An out later, Liles pulled a double just fair inside the third-base line. Minicozzi scored for a 5-2 lead.
Heston returned in the sixth inning and surrendered an inning-opening double to Zoilo Almonte. He recorded his 10th strikeout of the night, fanning Damon Sublett, but was lifted after plunking the next batter, Mesa. Jake Dunning entered, and Murton cracked a single through the left-side of the infield. A second run scored in the inning on a throwing error charged to Joseph.
The Squirrels continued to lead after six innings, as Heston was charge with a season-high four earned runs over 5 1/3 innings. He did not factor in the decision, allowing six hits and striking out 10. Nuno worked six innings, allowing five runs - one earned. He didn't register a decision in the ballgame either.
The Thunder pulled even in the bottom of the seventh inning against Richmond right-hander Austin Fleet. Z. Almonte started a string of three consecutive singles with one out in the inning. Sublett followed with a single and Mesa tied the game, 5-5, with a single.
Trenton right-hander Kelvin Perez followed Nuno and worked three nearly flawless innings of relief. Right-hander Preston Claiborne also worked two scoreless innings of relief for the Thunder in the defeat.
The finale of the three-game series is scheduled for 7:05 PM on Thursday at Waterfront Park. Richmond LHP Mike Kickham (4-5, 2.92) will make the start opposite Trenton RHP Adam Miller (0-1, 3.69). Pregame coverage will begin on Sports Radio 910 and SportsRadio910.com at 6:35 PM.
Eastern League Stories from June 20, 2012
- B-Mets Earn Doubleheader Split, 2-0 & 5-1 - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Squirrels Out-Last Thunder in 12, 7-5 - Trenton Thunder
- Aeros, B-Mets Split Twinbill - Akron RubberDucks
- Monell Claims Trenton Marathon for Squirrels, 7-5 - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Cole Leads Curve by Rock Cats in Debut - Altoona Curve
- Hazelbaker Blasts Two Home Runs in 7-3 Loss - Portland Sea Dogs
- Fisher Cats Win Fourth Straight, Beat Phils 4-3 - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Senators Snap Three-Game Losing Skid with 7-3 Win over Portland - Harrisburg Senators
- SeaWolves Homer Past Baysox - Chesapeake Baysox
- Erie SeaWolves vs. Bowie Baysox - Game Notes - Erie SeaWolves
- Aeros Add Pitcher for Twinbill - Akron RubberDucks
- Sea Dogs Game Notes - Portland Sea Dogs
- Flying Squirrels Game Notes at Trenton - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Cano & Robertson Coming to Trenton - Trenton Thunder
- B-Mets Game Notes: at Akron Aeros - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Fisher Cats Join Six-Team Effort to "Strike Out Inhalant Abuse" - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
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