Thunder clinch first despite loss
August 22, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
Trenton Thunder News Release
(Trenton, NJ)- Reading scored two runs in the fifth inning and held off Trenton for a 2-1 victory on Friday night from Waterfront Park. Despite the loss to the Phillies, Trenton clinched first place in the Northern Division with Portland's loss on Friday night to the Harrisburg Senators. It is the third straight season in which Trenton has won the Northern Division.
With the game scoreless in the fifth inning, Reading scored two runs to take the lead against Thunder Starting pitcher Jeff Marquez (0-1). With one out, Third baseman Neil Sellers singled. He advanced to third base on a double by Designated hitter Clay Harris. First baseman Joey Hammond followed with an RBI single to make it 1-0. Later in the frame, Left fielder Michael Spidale connected on an RBI single to make it 2-0. Trenton (80-51) notched a run in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly RBI by Edwar Gonzalez to cut the Reading lead to 2-1. The sacrifice fly scored Catcher P.J. Pilittere. Pilittere had two of Trenton's four hits in the loss. However, that was all the offense the Thunder could muster against Reading Starting pitcher Andrew Carpenter. Carpenter allowed only two hits and one unearned run in seven innings. He struck out eight and walked two for Reading.
Trenton had chances in both the eighth and ninth innings, but came away empty. The Thunder loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth inning, but former Thunder reliever Justin Pope retired Left fielder James Cooper on a ground out for the final out. In the ninth inning, Trenton loaded the bases with one out against Pope, but he induced a game-ending double play groundball off the bat of Thunder Right fielder Edwar Gonzalez. Pope notched his eighth save for Reading, and his first against his former team. Marquez scattered six hits and two earned runs in six innings, but took the loss. Trenton reliever Jhonny Nunez pitched three scoreless innings of relief for the Thunder. Trenton's seven-game winning streak came to an end with the loss. Reading (50-82) halted a nine-game losing streak with the win.
Trenton and Reading will play the middle game of the three-game series on Saturday night from Waterfront Park. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. RHP Victor Zambrano (1-0, 0.00) will start for the Thunder against RHP Tyson Brummett (2-7, 6.62).
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