South Jersey Baseball:
Thunder Down Rock Cats; Finish Road Trip 5-3

Thursday, May 25, 2006

By Dan Loney
Trenton Thunder Director of Public Relations

(New Britain, CT)- Randy Ruiz led the offense with a three-run homer and Jeff Karstens worked seven strong innings to lead the Thunder to a 6-2 win over New Britain on Thursday afternoon. The win gave the Thunder a 5-3 road trip and sole posession of 3rd Place in the Northern Division.

The Rock Cats (20-23) jumped on Thunder starter Jeff Karstens for a pair of runs in the 1st Inning for the early lead. Denard Span started the inning with a walk and moved to 2nd Base on a single from RF Scott Whitrock. DH Doug Deeds doubled to score Span. 1B Dan Matienzo followed with a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead.

Trenton (22-24) came back against Rock Cats starter Nick Blackburn in the 3rd Inning. LF Todd Self doubled followed by a single from 2B J.T. Stotts. CF Justin Christian singled to score Self to make it a 2-1 game. Two batters later, Ruiz launched a three-run homer to left field to put the Thunder ahead 4-2. Trenton added two unearned runs in the 6th Inning off Blackburn for insurance. Blackburn (3-5) allowed six runs (four earned) in 5 1/3 innings for the loss.

Meanwhile, Karstens settled down after early trouble. He would allow just two more hits after the 1st Inning. Karstens (1-0) allowed two runs on four hits for the win. He walked three and struck out four. Justin Pope worked the final two innings scoreless.

The Thunder return home for a "Memorial Day Weekend" series with the Binghamton Mets. The Eastern League version of the "Subway Series" starts on Friday at 7:05 PM. Steven White (3-1, 2.28) goes for the Thunder against the B-Mets Mike Pelfrey (0-1, 4.03).