South Jersey Baseball:
Thunder Win, 1 1/2 Games Out of 1st Place

Monday, June 20, 2005

By Dan Loney
Trenton Thunder Director of Broadcasting

Kevin Thompson had a homer and reached base five times, with Bronson Sardinha adding a pair of RBI singles, to lead the Thunder to a 7-6 win over the Portland Sea Dogs in Eastern league play on Monday night.

Trenton (38-33) jumped out toa 1-0 lead in the 2nd Inning on an RBI single by C Omir Santos off Portland starter David Pauley, but the Sea Dogs (37-29) responded with three runs in the bottom half off Thunder starter Jon Skaggs, including a two-run triple by CF David Murphy.

The Thunder followed with a pair of runs in each of the next two innings for a 5-3 lead. RBI singles by CF Melky Cabrera and Sardinha tied the game at 3-3 in the 3rd Inning. Thompson then launched a two-run homer in the 4th Inning for the lead. A bases loaded walk by Pauley to Thompson in the 5th Inning put Trenton ahead, 6-3. Pauley (3-3) allowed six runs (five earned) in 4 2/3 innings on nine hits in the loss.

Skaggs, though, couldn't take advantage as he was lifted in the 5th Inning after an RBI double by Portland 2B Dustin Pedroia made it a 6-5 game. Trenton reliever Matt Smith came in and silenced Portland over the next couple of innings.

The Thunder added an insurance run on Sardinha's second RBI single of the night for a 7-5 lead. Smith allowed a solo homer to Jeff Bailey, making it a 7-6 game, but Justin Pope got the final four outs for his 15th save. He struck out the side in the 9th Inning. Smith (3-4) allowed one run in 3 2/3 innings.

Trenton and Portland meet again on Tuesday at 7:00 PM. Matt DeSalvo (4-1, 3.30) starts for the Thunder against the Sea Dogs' Jon Papelbon (4-2, 2.23)