MLBDL Trenton Thunder

Thunder Explode for 25 Runs on 20 Hits to Tie Series with Black Bears

Published on July 27, 2022 under Major League Baseball Draft League (MLBDL)
Trenton Thunder News Release


(Trenton, NJ) - In one of the most dominant offensive performances in team history, the Trenton Thunder (21-21) ended their three-game losing streak in front of a Tuesday night crowd of 4,102 at Trenton Thunder Ballpark. After dropping the opening game of their series against the West Virginia Black Bears (26-17) by a final of 17-6, the Thunder bounced back in spades with a 25-8 thrashing. With 20 hits, the Thunder shared the wealth as seven players finished with two or more hits and runs batted in while the bullpen scattered just two runs over six-and-a-third innings.

Just like Monday night, the visitors wasted no time scoring in the first against Thunder starter Tyler Arella in his season debut. Turner Hill opened the game with a single and soon scored on Ruben Fontes' double before Jovante Dorris' two-out, two-bagger made it 2-0 West Virginia. They tacked on one more in the second on a Fontes sacrifice fly as Trenton's offense kicked into high gear in the home half.

Like Arella, Black Bears starter Brian Williams got hit around in his first start as the Thunder sent all nine batters to the plate. Christian Merriwether's run scoring single made it 3-1 and after Dilan Espinal's infield single loaded the bases, Damian Yenzi smacked a grand slam to left to give Trenton a 5-3 lead. Again, the Black Bears made it short lived by scoring four in the third to regain a 7-5 advantage.

The Thunder took over in the bottom of the third by batting around and putting up six runs on four hits. A Paul Coumoulos RBI single preceded Espinal's three-run bomb to left that gave them the lead for good. The ninth batter of the inning, Ben Newbert, drove in two more with a double to start the rout.

One of the keys and major differences from game one to game two was the work of the Thunder bullpen, which started with two-plus innings of one-run ball from Hunter Waldis (1-0). DJ Wilkinson followed with four strikeouts over two innings, letting up the Black Bears final run in the sixth on a Tremaine Spears sac fly following a leadoff triple from Adan Fernandez.

Coumolos later drove in two with a sixth inning single after Newbert and Ryan McCarthy opened the frame with back-to-back base hits. Leading 13-8, the Thunder blew it open in the bottom of the seventh against Shandon Herrera, who was charged with eight earned runs on four hits while only recording one out. The Thunder batted around for the second time and sent 15 to the plate, with the highlight being McCarthy and Jeff Manto driving in runs in both plate appearances to account for half of the 10-run total.

The series wraps up on Wednesday, July 27 at 11:00 AM as the Thunder host their first morning game since the 2019 season! For full ticket pricing and information for the rest of the 2022 season, partnership/sponsorship opportunities, and information about special events at Trenton Thunder Ballpark, please visit trentonthunder.com or call the Thunder Box Office at (609) 394-3300, opt 4.

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Major League Baseball Draft League Stories from July 27, 2022


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