South Jersey Baseball:
Thunder Outslug Akron, 8-6

Sunday, August 14, 2005

By Dan Loney
Trenton Thunder Director of Broadcasting

(Trenton, NJ)- Bronson Sardinha's three-run double in the 6th Inning was the key hit in Trenton's 8-6 win over Akron on Sunday afternoon. Trenton remains one game ahead of New Hampshire for 2nd Place in the Northern Division "wild card" race.

Akron (70-50) got the first run of the game on a 2nd Inning solo homer by 3B Pat Osborn, but Trenton (61-60) responded with four runs against Aeros starter Ronald Bay in the 3rd Inning. 1B Yobal Duenas tied the game with an RBI single followed two batters later by an RBI single from 2B Gabe Lopez for the lead. Michael Coleman added a sacrifice fly for a 3-1 lead. 3B Eric Duncan capped the inning with an RBI single.

Bay (3-3), who left before the 4th Inning due to injury, took the loss allowing four runs in three innings on five hits. Meanwhile, Thunder starter Steven White carried the lead into the 5th Inning, but Akron came back with a pair of RBI singles to cut the deficit to 4-3. White (1-5) allowed four runs (two earned) in five innings for the win. He walked four and struck out three.

With a 5-4 lead, Trenton (61-60) loaded the bases with no outs against Aeros reliever Travis Foley. After a Lopez fly out, Sardinha lined his hit into the left field corner, scoring all three runners on base, for an 8-4 lead.

Akron sliced the lead to 8-6 on a John Van Every two-run homer in the 7th Inning. But Thunder closer Justin Pope worked the final two innings to record his 24th save.

Trenton enjoys an off-day on Monday before starting a 10-game road trip on Tuesday against the Reading Phillies. Tuesday starters will be Calvin Maduro (1-0, 0.81) for Trenton and Mike Smith (3-12, 4.58) for Reading.