South Jersey Baseball:
8th Inning Rally Sinks Thunder, 6-4

Saturday, May 6, 2006

By Dan Loney
Trenton Thunder Director of Public Relations

(Norwich, CT)- Connecticut scored five runs off the Thunder bullpen in the 8th Inning to pull out a 6-4 win over Trenton on saturday afternoon. C Brian Munhall collected the game-winner, a two-run double with two outs.

Trenton carried a 4-1 lead into the 8th Inning, but saw reliever J.B. Cox walk the leadoff batter, CF Clay Timpner. After a fielder's choice and a single, 1B Tyler Von Schell reached on a Kevin Howard error that also scored a run for a 4-2 game. An RBI single by LF Aaron Sisk made it 4-3. Two batters later, Trenton's Justin Pope gave up an RBI single to SS Jake Wald that tied the game at 4-4. Munhall followed with his two-run double for the lead. Cox (1-1) was charged with four runs (two earned) in 2 1/3 innings to take the loss.

Connecticut's Geno Espineli (2-1) worked one scoreless inning for the win. Joe Bateman then retired Trenton in the 9th Inning for his 4th save.

The Thunder (10-18) took a 1-0 lead in the 1st Inning with three straight to start the game. DH Randy Ruiz doubled home RF Bronson Sardinha. The Defenders tied the game off Danny Borrell in the 4th Inning thanks to a solo homer by LF Aaron Sisk. Trenton took a 4-1 lead in the 7th Inning on an RBI single by 2B Gabe Lopez and a two-run hit by C Tommy Rojas.

The series concludes on Sunday at 2:05 PM. Jeremy King (0-0, 4.66) starts for Trenton against Connecticut's Jesse Floyd (0-3, 2.92).

Thunder Notes...

- Shelley Duncan had two walks and a hit, now reaching base safely in 21 straight games. That ties the season-high in the Eastern League set by Harrisburg's Dan Dement earlier in the season.

- The blown save by Trenton was their 5th in seven opportunities this season.

- Sardinha had three more hits today, his 4th three-hit game of the week. In the last seven games, Sardinha is 13 x 29 (.449 BA), 2 HR, 4 R, 6 RBI.