EL1 Trenton Thunder

Thunder Swept in Erie Doubleheader

Published on July 25, 2019 under Eastern League (EL1)
Trenton Thunder News Release


ERIE, Pa. - The Thunder dropped both ends of a doubleheader against the Erie SeaWolves Thursday night by scores of 9-8 and 5-1 at UPMC Park.

The first game, a dramatic back-and-forth affair, saw the Thunder (16-20, 54-47) strike first on a leadoff homer by Hoy Jun Park. Erie (26-9, 57-44) plated two runs in the bottom of the first to immediately take the lead, only to see the Thunder tie the score on a Park RBI-single in the second before a run-scoring single by Brandon Wagner put the Thunder back in front, 3-2 in the third.

But in the bottom of the third, the SeaWolves rallied for four runs off Thunder starter Nick Green. Frank Schwindel delivered a go-ahead two-run double off the left field wall and a sac fly and an RBI-single piled onto a new 6-3 Erie advantage.

Two runs in the Thunder fourth chased SeaWolves starter Tarik Skubal from the game before a run in the bottom half extended the Erie lead to 7-5. But in the fifth, a Gosuke Katoh RBI-single and a Matt Lipka bases-loaded hit-by-pitch tied the score at 7-7 with Nolan Blackwood on the mound in relief.

The score remained tied until Park delivered a go-ahead RBI-single to right field in the seventh off Ethan DeCaster (3-1). But Thunder right-hander Daniel Alvarez (5-2) struggled in the bottom half, issuing a leadoff walk and allowing a game-tying RBI-triple to Cam Gibson, who scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly to left field by former Thunder catcher Chace Numata.

Katoh collected a season-high four hits in the game, his first four-hit effort since 2013 in the Gulf Coast League. Wagner matched a season-high with three hits, his first such game since May 27.

In the second game, the Thunder offense stalled, managing just one run on a fifth-inning RBI-single by Chris Gittens, who extended his season-high on-base streak to 13 games.

Erie jumped in front with a leadoff homer from Derek Hill off Janson Junk (0-1) in the bottom of the first inning. Junk, making his Double-A debut, surrendered four runs over four and two-third innings while matching a career-high with five walks. Braden Bristo pitched the final inning and one-third, striking out four and allowing a solo homer to Josh Lester in the sixth.

Anthony Castro (4-2) struck out eight batters across five and two-third innings for the SeaWolves, working around seven hits and four walks as the Thunder stranded 12 baserunners, including two failed bases-loaded threats.

Your Thunder continue their road trip on Friday evening at 7:05 p.m. against the SeaWolves. RHP Nick Nelson (4-2, 3.11) will start for the Thunder, and RHP Casey Mize (6-0, 2.05) will go for Erie. Pregame coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on 920 AM The Jersey or online at TrentonThunder.com/Broadcast.

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Eastern League Stories from July 25, 2019


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