South Jersey Baseball:
Thunder Fall to Late Rally, 3-1

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

By Dan Loney
Trenton Thunder Director of Broadcasting

Raul Tablado went 4-for-4, including the game-tying home run in the 8th Inning, to lead the New Hampshire Fisher Cats to a 3-1 win over the Thunder on Wednesday night. It was just the third time in 38 tries that the Thunder have lost a game when leading after seven innings.

Trenton (43-36) scored their only run in the 5th Inning. New Hampshire starter Dustin McGowan allowed a one-out single to DH Yobal Duenas. Two batters later, C Jason Brown ripped a line drive to center that went past CF Miguel Negron for an RBI triple and the 1-0 lead. McGowan allowed one run on five hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Meanwhile, Thunder starter Jeff Karstens held the Fisher Cats to no runs and five hits over his first seven innings. But in the eighth, Tablado led off with a solo homer that tied the game at 1-1. After a Brad hassey single, Karstens wa staken out of the game. With runners at 1st and 3rd Base, LF Ron Acuna hit a line drive off the glove of 2B J.T. Stotts for an error, but also score the go-ahead run. Karstens (7-7) allowed two runs on seven hits in seven innings with no walks and three strikeouts.

Trenton threatened in the 8th Inning, but New Hampshire's bullpen got out of the jam. Closer Lee Gronkiewicz recorded the final four outs for his 23rd save, tying him for the Eastern League lead. The win went to Tracy Thorpe (1-0), who worked 1 2/3 shutout innings of relief.

The series finale is Thursday at 7:05 PM. Charlie isaacson (4-2, 3.09) starts for Trenton against the Fisher Cats' Josh Banks (7-5, 4.32).