South Jersey Baseball:
Thunder Pound Out 16 Hits in 11-6 Win

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

By Dan Loney
Trenton Thunder Director of Broadcasting

(Portland, ME)- The bottom third of the Trenton batting order combined for seven hits and six runs scored to lead Trenton to an 11-6 win over Portland on Tuesday. The Thunder collected their first three-game win streak since mid-July with the victory.

After Portland scored the first run, Trenton (65-64) came back to score the next seven runs in the 3rd and 4th Innings off starter Anibal Sanchez. 3B J.T. Stotts (2 x 4, 3 R, 2 RBI) singled and later scored on a wild pitch. RF Bronson Sardinha added an RBI single for a 2-1 lead. DH Michael Coleman capped the innings with a two-run homer. The Thunder took advantage of three Portland errors in the 4th Inning to score three unearned runs. Sanchez (3-4) allowed seven runs (four earned) on eight hits in 3 1/3 innings.

But the Sea Dogs (71-59) came back in the 5th Inning to close the gap. Trenton starter Matt DeSalvo loaded the bases on a hit and two walks after the first two batters made outs. 1B Jeremy West singled home a pair of runs to close the gap to 7-4. DeSalvo was lifted in favor of Jeff Kennard, who walked the next two batters and forced in a run to make it a 7-5 game. Ben Julianel got a fly ball for the final out of the inning. DeSalvo allowed five runs and five walks in 4 2/3 innings.

After the teams traded runs in the 6th Inning, the Thunder got an RBI single from 2B Gabe Lopez in the 8th Inning and a two-run double from Stotts in the 9th Inning to secure the win. Julianel (4-2) earned the win by not allowing an earned run in 1 2/3 innings of relief. Charlie Manning and Justin Pope worked the last three innings to secure the win.

The teams meet again on Wednesday at 7:00 PM. Eric Schmitt (1-2, 4.63) starts for Trenton against Portland's David Pauley (9-5, 3.70).