South Jersey Baseball:
Thunder Fall 4-1, Drop Back into 3rd Place

Saturday, June 18, 2005

By Dan Loney
Trenton Thunder Director of Broadcasting

New Hampshire got six strong innings from starter Josh Banks, two RBI from Ryan Roberts and two runs scored from Miguel Negron in a 4-1 win over the Thunder on Saturday afternoon in front of a record 7,210 fans at Fisher Cats Ballpark.

Just like last night's game, New Hampshire (36-31) got runs in the 1st and 3rd Innings for a 2-0 lead. Their run in the first was aided by a Ramiro Pena error and scored on a sacrifice fly by 1B Clint Johnston. A double by SS Brad Hassey and an RBI single by Negron off Trenton starter Jeff Karstens made it 2-0.

The Thunder (36-33) plated a run on a Melky Cabrera sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth, but the Fisher Cats responded with a two-run double by 2B Ryan Roberts to take a 4-1 lead in the bottom half of the inning. Karstens (6-6) allowed four runs (three earned) in 6 1/3 innings with two walks and four strikeouts.

Meanwhile, New Hampshire starter Josh Banks kept Trenton in check. Banks (6-5) allowed one run on four hits in six innings for the win. He walked one and struck out six. Three pitchers from the New Hampshire bullpen each followed with one scoreless inning to close out the game. Lee Gronkiewicz worked the 9th Inning to record his 20th save.

Trenton collected just five hits on the afternoon with LF Kevin Thompson leading the way, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.

The series finale is Sunday at 1:05 PM. Charlie Isaacson (3-2, 3.15) starts for Trenton against the Fisher Cats Cam Reimers (6-5, 4.52).