South Jersey Baseball:
Thunder Force "Game 5" with Coleman's Walkoff HR

Saturday, September 10, 2005

By Dan Loney
Trenton Thunder Director of Broadcasting

(Trenton, NJ)- Michael Coleman's "walkoff" homer to lead off the 9th Inning gave the Trenton Thunder a 3-2 win over Portland on Saturday night. The win forces a decisive Game #5 on Sunday in Portland, ME at 6:00 PM.

Trenton, now tied in the series at 2-2, trailed 2-0 into the 8th Inning. Portland starter Charlie Zink carried a no-hitter into the 6th Inning and worked six shutout innings on the night. Reliever Edgar Martinez carried the shutout to two outs in the 8th Inning before allowing a double to Thunder 2B Gabe Lopez. Jim Mann entered the game and allowed a two-run homer to Bronson Sardinha to tie the game.

Mann then surrendered to game-winner to Coleman leading off the 9th Inning on a 3-2 fastball. Mann (0-1) allowed two runs in 1/3 inning. Thunder reliever Charlie Manning worked 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win. He allowed two hits with one walk and four strikeouts.

Thunder starter Calvin Maduro gave a valiant effort, holding the Sea Dogs to two runs in 7 1/3 innings. Portland took a 1-0 lead in the 2nd Inning on a two-out RBI single by SS Hanley Ramirez and added a second run in the 8th Inning thanks to a Brandon Moss RBI single.

Tomorrow's game is just the second "Game #5" in Thunder history. The only other came on September 13, 1999, when the Thunder, then a Red Sox affiliate, lost to Norwich, a Yankees affiliate, by a 7-4 score.

Game #5 is Sunday at 6:00 PM at Hadlock Field. Jeremy King (0-0, 2.31) starts for Trenton against Boston Red Sox RHP Wade Miller, who is on a rehab assignment with the Sea Dogs.