EL1 Trenton Thunder

Thunder Rake Way to Rout of Reading

Published on August 18, 2019 under Eastern League (EL1)
Trenton Thunder News Release


READING, Pa. - The Thunder slugged four home runs in a seven-inning, rain-shortened 12-6 win over the Reading Fightin Phils on Sunday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Angel Aguilar opened the day's scoring with a two-run homer off rehabbing Phillies right-hander Jerad Eickhoff in the second inning, but the Fightins (34-25, 72-53) promptly rallied back against Thunder (30-28, 68-56)) starter Shawn Semple in the bottom half. Nick Maton and Arquimedes Gamboa opened the inning with back-to-back solo homers to tie the score, and after a pair of singles, Luke Williams hit a three-run homer to give Reading a 5-2 lead.

After a scoreless third on both sides, both teams plated a run in the fourth inning. But with the Thunder trailing 6-3 in the top of the fifth, Kyle Holder brought his team back within a run on a two-run homer to right field off reliever Aaron Brown.

In the sixth, with Adonis Medina (6-6) on the mound for Reading as a piggyback starter, Kellin Deglan drew a one-out walk before Rashad Crawford launched a go-ahead, two-run homer to right field for a 7-6 Thunder advantage.

Ben Ruta added an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI-groundout, and after three walks loaded the bases, Brandon Wagner drove a grand slam to left field, the second of his career, to stretch the Thunder cushion to six runs.

Right-hander Andrew Bellatti took over to pitch the bottom of the seventh for the Thunder. The right-hander walked Gamboa to open the frame before a heavy rain fell onto the field, and after nearly two hours of stoppage, the umpire crew called the game final.

The four Thunder homers matched a season-high set on May 27 in Binghamton, and the series victory was the team's fourth in a row, also matching a season-high.

Daniel Alvarez (7-2) earned the win for the Thunder, pitching two scoreless innings, including a sixth inning in which the Thunder worked around two men in scoring position with one out.

Your Thunder return home on Monday to open a three-game series against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at 7 p.m. RHP Trevor Stephan (2-4, 5.74) will start for the Thunder, and RHP Joey Murray (1-2, 3.96) will go for New Hampshire. Pregame coverage begins at 6:40 p.m. on 1040 AM WCHR or online at TrentonThunder.com/Broadcast.

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Eastern League Stories from August 18, 2019


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