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MLBDL Trenton Thunder

Thunder Pork Roll Win First Series Against Keys

July 15, 2022 - Major League Baseball Draft League (MLBDL)
Trenton Thunder News Release


(Trenton, NJ) - It took four tries but the Thunder Pork Roll finally secured a series victory over the Frederick Keys with Friday night's 8-2 triumph at Trenton Thunder Ballpark. A monster fourth inning produced six runs as the Trenton bullpen came through with its second straight impressive performance in the second-to-last game of the first half. Thunder Pork Roll starter Joe Joe Rodriguez got the loudest ovation of the night in his final start, leaving with one out in the fifth inning and his entire team waiting for him as he approached the first base dugout.

The Keys scored first after being blanked 3-0 in the opener on Thursday night. In the second, Dominic Freeberger singled with one out and got to third immediately on a passed ball and wild pitch. Two batters later, Logan Sanders lifted a sacrifice fly into right field for his 11th run batted in and a 1-0 Frederick lead.

In the third, Tate Ballestero notched the first of his three hits with an infield single off Keys starter Allan Saathoff. Later with two outs, designated hitter Christian Hall continued his impressive home numbers with a game-tying double for his fifth run batted in. Saathoff (1-3) returned for the home fourth but was unable to make it through as the Thunder Pork Roll put together one of their best half-innings of the season.

Ryan McCarthy opened the inning with an infield single into the shortstop hole and Caleb McNeely followed with a five pitch walk. On a 1-2 pitch, Mason Hammonds broke the tie with a single and Jovani Wiggs used his speed to produce a run-scoring infield single to the right side. Another hit on the infield from EJ Exposito loaded the bases for Ballestero, and the switch hitter lifted a double over the head of left fielder Ben Fitzgerald to clear the bases and break the game open. A balk from reliever Cobe Reeves scored Ballestero for the sixth run of the inning, and Trenton was eventually able to bat around after John Cristino's high drive into right field got lost in the lights for a double.

After a long wait in the home dugout, Rodriguez was given the opportunity to come out for the top of the fifth and face one final hitter. He ended his season with a strikeout of Fitzgerald and left to a loud round of applause as the entire dugout came out to congratulate him as he exited the field. Lefthander Devin Milberg (2-2) got the first call in relief and had arguably his best appearance of the season with three strikeouts over two innings of one-hit ball. Javier Ramos' first inning was dominant with a 1-2-3 seventh that featured a pair of strikeouts and Chase Nowak finished the job by retiring all four batters he faced with two strikeouts of his own. Offensively, Exposito reached base four times out of the leadoff spot by adding two walks and Hall had one more double in the sixth.

The Thunder and Keys wrap up their series and the first half of the season on Saturday, July 16th at 6:30 PM. The first 1,000 fans ages 18 & older will go home with a NJ Lottery Instant Ticket and there will be a Postgame Fireworks Show! To purchase tickets, call (609)-394-3300, Opt 4 or visit trentonthunder.com.

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