South Jersey Baseball:
Thunder Fall 5-4 in Front of Largest "Home Opener" Crowd Ever
Paid Crowd Of 7,069 Sees 10 Inning Loss

Thusday, April 13, 2006

By Bill Cook
Trenton Thunder Director of Public Relations

(Trenton, NJ)- An RBI double from Connecticut's Eddy Martinez-Esteve in the 10th Inning powered the Defenders to a 5-4 win over Trenton on Thursday night. The paid crowd of 7,069 was the largest for a "Home Opener" in the 13-year history of the Thunder franchise.

The previous high on a "Home Opener" was 6,994 in the 1995 season. The last time Trenton had a sellout for a "Home Opener" was 2001. That team was 0-9 heading into that game.

Connecticut (6-1) took a 1-0 lead in the 5th Inning on an RBI double by 1B Travis Ishikawa, but the Thunder (0-8) responded in the bottom half with a three-run homer by CF Justin Christian for a 3-1 lead. The Defenders tied the game at 3-3 in the 7th Inning as Ishikawa delivered a two-run double off Thunder reliever J.B. Cox. Thunder starter Danny Borrell allowed one run in six innings with one walk and six strikeouts.

The Defenders took a 4-3 lead in the 9th Inning as Cox committed a balf with runners at 1st and 3rd Base, forcing in the go-ahead run. But Trenton tied the game in the bottom of the ninth off Connecticut's Joe Bateman as C Omir Santos singled home pinch-runner Vince Faison.

In the 10th Inning, Trenton reliever Paul Thorp retired the first two batters of the inning, but then allowed a single to RF Nate Schierholtz and a double by Martinez-Esteve for the winning run. The Thunder threatned in the bottom of the 10th Inning, receieving a pair of two-out walks, but Billy Sadler struck out SS Ramiro Pena to end the game. Bateman (2-0) got the win, despite allowing the run in the ninth. Thorp (0-1) took the loss with Sadler picking up his 1st save.

The series continues on Friday at 7:05 PM. Jorge DePaula (0-1, 6.23) starts for Trenton against Connecticut's Jonathan Sanchez (0-1, 0.00).