South Jersey Baseball:
Thunder Rally For 5-1 Win

Thursday, June 16, 2005

By Dan Loney
Trenton Thunder Director of Broadcasting

Kevin Thompson's three-run homer in the bottom of the 7th Inning powered the Thunder to a 5-1 win over Bowie on Thursday afternoon. Trenton won three of four games in the series from the Baysox.

Trailing 1-0, Trenton got two runners on base with two outs. Thompson then ripped a 2-1 pitch from Bowie reliever Nick McCurdy over the left field wall for a 3-1 lead. The Thunder added two more runs on a Jason Brown double off Baysox reliever Scott Rice in the 8th Inning. McCurdy (0-3) allowed three runs in two innings of work after starter Richard Stahl shutout the Thunder over the first five innings.

Bowie (32-33) held that 1-0 lead thanks to early offense and the ability to get out of some jams. In the 1st inning, Thunder starter Matt DeSalvo allowed a two-out single to Tripper Johnson, scoring Luis Matos, with the game's first run. But Stahl helped the cause by getting Bowie out of two "bases-loaded" jams in the 2nd and 4th Innings.

DeSalvo went 4 2/3 innings in his return from the Disabled List, leaving due to a pitch count. He allowed one run on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Reliever Charlie Manning tossed 2 1/3 scorless innings of relief for the win.

The Baysox (32-34) threatened late, but a double play on a strikeout by Thunder reliever Justin Pope in the 8th Inning cut down a potential rally. Then, Bowie loaded the bases in the 9th Inning, but Peter Bergeron hit into a game-ending double play for the 5-1 Thunder victory. Pope earned his 13th save.

The Thunder begin a series against New Hampshire on Friday at 6:05 PM. Ramon Ramirez (2-3, 4.95) starts for Trenton against the Fisher Cats' Zach Jackson (2-0, 1.35).