South Jersey Baseball:
Walkoff Homer Give Thunder 7-6 Win Over Portland

Wednesday, July 6, 2005

By Dan Loney
Trenton Thunder Director of Broadcasting

Colin Porter hit a solo homer off Portland reliever Marc Deschenes in the bottom of the 9th Inning to give the Thunder a 7-6 win on Wednesday. The win moves Trenton back into a 1st Place tie with the Sea Dogs atop the Northern Division.

The Thunder (46-40) had a 4-1 lead after three innings, but saw the Sea Dogs (44-38) rally with five unanswered runs to take a 6-4 lead. The early lead for Trenton was aided by 1B Shelley Duncan's 21st homer of the year, a two-run shot off Portland starter David Pauley in the third, that gave the Thunder their 4-1 lead. Portland got a run back off Trenton starter Grant Roberts in the 4th Inning and three more in the fifth on an RBI single by SS Hanley ramirez and a two-run homer from 2B Kenny Perez.

Trailing 6-4, the Thunder started their comeback scoring a run on a double by DH Yobal Duenas in the 7th Inning to close to within 6-5. The game became a 6-6 tie in the eighth on an RBI single by C Jason Brown that scored Shelley Duncan. The potential go-ahead, though, was cut down by Ramirez at the plate later in the inning.

In the ninth, Portland threatened, but failed against Thunder reliever Justin Pope. Porter then led off the bottom half with his first homer with Trenton for the game-winner off Deschenes (4-3), who took the loss. Pope (3-2) worked the scoreless 9th inning to get the win.

It was the third "walkoff" win for Trenton in 2005.

The series concludes on Thursday at 11:05 AM. Matt DeSalvo (5-2, 3.72) starts for Trenton against Portland's Anibel Sanchez, making his Double-A debut.