EL1 Trenton Thunder

Zehner Shot Sparks Thunder Win in Finale

Published on July 22, 2018 under Eastern League (EL1)
Trenton Thunder News Release


BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - A go-ahead two-run homer in the fifth inning by Zack Zehner helped propel the Thunder to a 9-2 win over the Binghamton Rumble Ponies on Sunday afternoon at NYSEG Stadium.

With the score tied at 2-2, Devyn Bolasky lined a one-out single to center field off Binghamton starter Mickey Jannis. Zehner followed with a towering two-run homer to right field, giving the Thunder a lead that would stand the rest of the way.

Trenton added to its advantage in the seventh off reliever Matt Blackham, getting a sacrifice fly from Billy Fleming and an RBI-single from Gosuke Katoh. In the ninth, Katoh delivered again, grounding a triple into the right field corner to clear the loaded bases to stretch the Thunder lead to seven runs.

Katoh's four RBI led the Thunder. Fleming went 0-for-3 at the plate, ending his hitting streak at 10 games, one shy of matching his career-high, as well as one shy of matching the longest of the season by a Thunder player.

Right-hander Nick Nelson labored on the mound in his double-A debut as the Thunder starter, holding the Rumble Ponies scoreless through the first two innings, but allowing RBI-doubles to Levi Michael and Patrick Mazeika in the third for a 2-0 Binghamton lead. The right-hander lasted just four innings, walking four and striking out five.

In the top of the fourth, Ryan McBroom hit a one-out solo homer off the batter's eye in center field to cut the Thunder's deficit to one run. After a groundout, Mandy Alvarez drew a walk and then scored the tying run on a double to left-center by Jeff Hendrix.

Hendrix also contributed defensively, throwing out Kevin Taylor at the plate from center field in the bottom of the fifth when Taylor attempted to score from second on a Jhoan Urena single. Reliever David Sosebee walked two batters in the inning, but escaped the jam unscathed to preserve the 4-2 advantage.

Trenton pitching totaled nine walks in the game, but James Reeves and Caleb Frare each pitched two scoreless innings in relief across the final four frames.

The win allowed the Thunder to salvage a split of the four-game series, and brought the team within two games of the first-place New Hampshire Fisher Cats in the Eastern Division standings.

Your Thunder open a seven-game homestand on Monday night at 7pm against the Hartford Yard Goats. The Thunder have yet to announce their starting pitcher, while RHP Frank Duncan (0-1, 3.86) will go for Hartford. The first 2,000 fans ages six and up will receive a Thunder team poster, presented by White Eagle Printing. Tickets are available by phone at 609-394-3300 or online at TrentonThunder.com.

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Eastern League Stories from July 22, 2018


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