South Jersey Baseball:
Thunder Snap Skid, Start May with Win

Sunday, May 1, 2005

By Dan Loney
Trenton Thunder Director of Broadcasting

A balanced Trenton attack led to a season-high 14 hits and a 9-5 win over the Altoona Curve on Sunday afternoon in Eastern League play. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Thunder.

After retiring the sides quickly in the 1st Inning, both starters, Trenton's Jon Skaggs and Altoona's Hansel Izquierdo, allowed four runs in the 2nd Inning. Trenton (11-13) got a RBI triple from CF Melky Cabrera, a RBI single by SS Andy Cannizaro and a two-run single from 2B Gabe Lopez for a 4-0 lead. But Altoona (10-10) responded with a homer by 1B Brad Eldred, his league-leading 11th of the season, a bases loaded walk and a two-run single by RF Vic Buttler to tie the game.

The Curve took a 5-4 lead off Skaggs in the 3rd Inning, but the Thunder starter settled down and worked through five innings for the victory. Skaggs (1-2) allowed five runs on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts.

He got the win because of a Thunder rally in the 5th Inning off Izquierdo. 3B Eric Duncan's RBI single scored Lopez to tie the game at 5-5. Later, Cannizaro came through with a two-run, two-out single to put the Thunder ahead at 7-5. Izquierdo (1-3) was charged with seven runs on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Trenton received excellent work from the bullpen. Ben Julianel pitched three scoreless innings with five strikeouts. Justin Pope pitched the ninth to close the game.

In all, every starter had at least one base hit and six of the nine starters had at least one RBI.

Trenton starts a four-game series with Bowie on Monday at 7:05 PM. Sean Henn (2-1, 0.71) starts for the Thunder.