South Jersey Baseball:
Thunder Take Over 1st Place with 7-3 Win and Portland Loss

Friday, June 24, 2005

By Dan Loney
Trenton Thunder Director of Broadcasting

Melky Cabrera and Eric Crozier collected two RBI apiece as the Thunder beat Reading, 7-3, on Friday night and moved into 1st Place in the Northern Division. Portland lost to Norwich, 3-2.

The Thunder (41-34) have taken over 1st Place this late into a season for the first time since the 1999 Trenton team led the division wire-to-wire. Trenton is seven games above .500 for the first time since July 24, 2001.

The Thunder jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 3rd Inning against Reading starter Carlos Chantres. Singles by J.T. Stotts and Ramiro Pena were followed by a sacrifice fly by Kevin Thompson for a 1-0 lead. Cabrera added a two-run double to give Trenton a 3-0 lead. Reading (33-43) got runs back in the 6th and 7th Innings off starter Charlie Isaacson and reliever Carlos Artiles to close to within 3-2. Isaacson (4-2) allowed one run in six innings with one walk and five strikeouts.

Trenton put the game away with four runs in the 7th Inning. A fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly put the Thunder ahead 5-2. Crozier then added a two-run homer, his 3rd of the season, off reliever Francisco Butto for a 7-2 lead. Chantres (2-9) took the loss allowing five runs (three earned) in 6 1/3 innings.

The series continues on Saturday at 7:05 PM. Jon Skaggs (2-6, 6.17) starts for the Thunder against Reading's Chris Rojas (7-5, 4.17).