South Jersey Baseball:
Thunder Win On 12th Inning Homer

Thursday, August 18, 2005

By Dan Loney
Trenton Thunder Director of Broadcasting

(Reading, PA)- Jason Brown's solo homer in the 12th Inning powered the Thunder to a 2-1 win over Reading on Thursday night. The win keeps the Thunder 1 1/2 games behind New Hampshire for the Northern Division "wild card".

Neither team could get any offense going against the starting pitchers. Reading's Josue Matos allowed two singles in six shutout innings with no walks and four strikeouts. Meanwhile, Trenton's Matt DeSalvo allowed two hits in eight shutout innings. He walked one and struck out five.

Trenton (62-62) took a 1-0 lead in the 9th Inning. Reliever Ryan Cameron allowed a leadoff walk to Thunder 2B Gabe Lopez. After a ground out moved him to 2nd Base, Lopez scored on a single by CF Melky Cabrera. But Reading (62-63) came back with an unearned run in the bottom half off Justin Pope. LF Ryan Fleming doubled home PH Chris Roberson, who reached bases on an error.

The Phillies threatened in the 11th Inning with two on and two outs, but Jim Deschaine popped out to end the inning. Pope (6-4) allowed one unearned run in three innings of relief to earn the win thanks to Brown's heroics in the 12th Inning

Brown's homer came off Reading's Francisco Butto with one out in the 12th Inning. Michael Brunet and Charlie Manning closed out the game in the bottom half, with Manning getting the last two outs for his 2nd save.

The Thunder start a weekend series in Binghamton, NY on Friday. Danny Borrell (1-0, 4.40) goes for Trenton against Binghamton's Orlando Roman (3-4, 5.08).