South Jersey Baseball:
Thunder Win On 10th Inning Wild Pitch

Sunday, May 28, 2006

By Dan Loney
Trenton Thunder Director of Public Relations

(Trenton, NJ)- Justin Christian used his speed to help the Thunder beat Binghamton, 5-4, in 10 innings on Sunday afternoon. Christian scored the winning run on a wild pitch.

Trenton (24-25) sent the game to extra innings on a two-run homer from RF Bronson Sardinha off B-Mets reliever Ivan Maldonado in the bottom of the ninth. It was Sardinha's 7th homer of the season and 2nd of the game. The Thunder started the 10th Inning with a single from SS Felix Escalona, but Kevin Howard then hit into a doubleplay. Christian then blooped a double down the right field line. he stole 3rd Base and then scored when the 1-2 pitch from Matt Lindstrom sail to the backstop.

Charlie Manning (6-0) picked up the win in relief with two scoreless innings. Lindstrom (1-1) was charged with one run and two hits in 2/3 inning for the loss.

The Thunder took a 1-0 lead in the 1st Inning on Sardinha's first homer of the day, a solo shot off Mets starter Mike Pelfrey. But Binghamton (21-29) came back with homers from 3B Jay Caliguiri and LF Ray Navarette off Thunder starter Danny Borrell for a 3-1 lead. One of the N.Y. Mets top prospects, Pelfrey allowed one run on six hits in six innings with five strikeouts and one walk.

The teams traded runs in the 8th Inning to make it a 4-2 game before the late inning heroics for the Thunder.

The series concludes on Monday at 1:35 PM. Tyler Clippard (2-6, 4.28) starts for Trenton against the Mets' Miguel Pinango (0-3, 4.53).

Thunder Notes

- After a 0-10 start, the Thunder have a chance with a win on Monday to even their record at .500 (25-25).

- Sardinha's two-homer game is the second for the Thunder in the last five days.

- The six wins for Manning give him the Eastern League lead.