South Jersey Baseball:
Homers In 9th Get Thunder 5-2 Win

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

By Dan Loney
Trenton Thunder Director of Public Relations

(Portland, ME)- Randy Ruiz and Shelley Duncan launched 9th Inning homers to lead the Thunder to a 5-2 win over Portland on Wednesday afternoon. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for Trenton (11-20).

With the game tied at 2-2 in the ninth, Thunder CF Justin Christian reached on a Chad Spann error to start the inning. After a walk to Bronson Sardinha, Christian was thrown out at 3rd Base on a double-steal attempt. Ruiz then launched a two-run homer to left field off Victor Ramos to put Trenton ahead, 4-2. Duncan followed with a solo blast all the way over the 37' high "Maine Monster" for a 5-2 lead.

Charlie Manning (4-0) picked up the win by retiring all four batters that he faced in the 8th and 9th Inning. Justin Pope got the save his first of the year. Ramos (1-1) took tke loss allowing three runs in two innings of relief.

The game started as a pitcher's duel between Trenton's Philip Hughes and Portland's Phil Seibel. Hughes blanked Portland over the first four innings, while Seibel worked five shutout innings before leaving on a pitch count. Portland (19-12) jumped ahead in the 5th Inning. With two outs, 3B Chad Spann singled and moved to 2nd Base on a Dusty Brown. CF david Murphy followed with an RBI single for a 1-0 lead. The Thunder came back for a 2-1 lead in the 6th Inning thanks to an RBI single by C Tommy Rojas and a fielder's choice RBI from 2B Gabe Lopez. Portland responded with a solo homer by 1B Luis Jimenez to tie the game in bottom of the sixth at 2-2.

Hughes allowed two runs on five hits in six innings for a no-decision. he alked one and struck out five.

Trenton begins a home stand on Thursday against Bowie. Tyler Clippard (1-4, 3.90) starts for the Thunder against the Baysox James Johnson (3-1, 4.01). Game time is 7:05 PM.

Thunder Notes

- Charlie Manning is now tied for the Eastern League lead in wins (4). He is the only reliever amongst four pitchers currently tied for 1st Place.

- The home runs by Ruiz and Duncan were the first "back-to-back" homers by Trenton this season.

- Shelley Duncan extended his on-base streak to 24 consecutive games with a walk in the 4th Inning.