EL1 Trenton Thunder

Thunder Win on Walk-Off Home Run

Published on May 26, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Trenton Thunder News Release


Trenton, NJ - A walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth by Brandon Laird to complete the cycle secured the Thunder's third straight win, as Trenton (27-18) defeated Erie 7-6 on Wednesday night at Waterfront Park.

The SeaWolves struck first off RHP DJ Mitchell as Wilkin Ramirez hit a solo home run to left field in the top of the first inning to give Erie an early 1-0 lead. Trenton came back in the bottom of the second inning scoring four runs on Erie LHP Jon Kibler. Trenton sent nine batters to the plate in the inning and recorded four hits. The inning was highlighted by an RBI double by Luis Nunez, scoring Marcos Vechionacci.

The Thunder went up 5-1 in the fifth inning as Brandon Laird led off with a triple to right field. Laird came in to score after Daniel Brewer hit a sacrifice fly to right field.

Mitchell went on to pitch six innings and allowed two runs on six hits and struck out a career-high nine batters. Both runs charged to Mitchell came on solo home runs from Ramirez.

Erie tied the game in the top of the eighth inning off reliever Noel Castillo. With one out, Castillo walked Shawn Roof and then served up a two-run homer to Wilkin Ramirez to cut the Trenton lead to 5-4. Ramirez had three home runs on the night and leads the EL with 13 on the year.

Cesar Nicolas followed with a bloop double to center and Castillo was removed for RHP Eric Wordekemper. A wild pitch from Wordekemper moved Nicolas up to third base and would later come in to score the tying run off an RBI single from Josh Burrus.

In the top of the ninth inning, the SeaWolves took the lead as Cale Iorg singled, then moved to third base on a throwing error by Marcos Vechionacci. Iorg scored the go-ahead run on an RBI single from Andy Dirks to give Erie a 6-5 lead.

With two outs and a runner on first in the bottom of the ninth, Laird hit a walk-off home run to complete the cycle and secure the 7-6 victory.

Laird's cycle is just the second in Thunder history. Sean Garrett hit the first on April 28, 2007.

The Thunder and SeaWolves will conclude their series tomorrow night at 7:05 PM. RHP Hector Noesi (0-0) will make his first start at Waterfront Park for the Thunder while Erie will go with RHP Brooks Brown 3-2, 4.55).

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Eastern League Stories from May 26, 2010


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