EL1 Trenton Thunder

Pitching Struggles as Thunder Fall Short of Sweep

Published on August 19, 2018 under Eastern League (EL1)
Trenton Thunder News Release


The Thunder were held hitless into the fifth inning and four pitchers combined to allow season-high run and hit totals in a 12-1 loss to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Sunday in front of 5,021 fans at ARM & HAMMER Park.

The loss denied the Thunder (68-57) a series sweep and marked the sixth time this season Trenton allowed double-digit run totals in a game. New Hampshire's (69-53) 12 runs and 15 hits were both season-high totals allowed by Thunder pitching.

Seven of the Fisher Cats' 12 runs came in the ninth inning, when relievers Matt Frawley and Chase Hodson allowed a combined six hits before recording the inning's first out. Twelve New Hampshire batters made plate appearances in the inning.

Max Pentecost led New Hampshire with three hits, including a solo homer in the second inning off Thunder starter Ryan Bollinger that produced the game's first run. Jon Berti and rehabbing Blue Jays infielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. also homered, and eight of nine Fisher Cats batters recorded at least one hit.

Over five innings, Bollinger struck out seven batters, two shy of matching a career-high, but took the loss after allowing four runs.

New Hampshire starter Jordan Romano retired the first 14 batters he faced before Jorge Saez reached on a throwing error by first baseman Cavan Biggio with two out in the fifth inning. Jeff Hendrix followed by hitting a hard ground ball off Romano's foot on the mound, allowing Hendrix to reach base with an infield single.

Trailing 4-0 in the bottom of the sixth, the Thunder got a leadoff single from Ryan Lidge and a walk from Bruce Caldwell. Brandon Wagner put Trenton on the board with an RBI-double to right field, but the Thunder left two runners in scoring position when southpaw Kirby Snead entered in relief of Romano and retired the side.

Snead and right-hander Francisco Rios held Trenton to just one hit over a combined three and one-third scoreless innings after Romano's strong start.

Despite the loss, a Reading Fightin Phils loss to Binghamton earlier in the day dropped the Thunder's magic number to seven.

Your Thunder continue their homestand on Monday night at 7 p.m. against the Hartford Yard Goats. The Thunder have yet to announce their starting pitcher, while RHP Rico Garcia (5-1, 2.76) will go for Hartford. The first 1,025 fans ages 14 and older will receive the latest issue of Yankees Magazine, presented by the New York Yankees. Tickets are available by phone at 609-394-3300 or online at TrentonThunder.com.

Check out the Trenton Thunder Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Eastern League Stories from August 19, 2018


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central