South Jersey Baseball:
Thunder Pound Out 15 Hits in 7-2 Win

Monday, June 26, 2006

By Dan Loney
Trenton Thunder Director of Public Relations

(Trenton, NJ)- Trenton pounded out 15 hits, including three home runs, in a 7-2 win over Reading on Sunday afternoon. The Thunder have now won four straight series from Eastern League teams.

Trenton (42-35) scored a run in the 1st Inning on a double by 2B J.T. Stotts and an RBI single from 1B Shelley Duncan. The Thunder added a two-run homer from DH Eric Duncan in the 3rd Inning off Reading starter Mike Smith for a 3-0 lead. After the R-Phils scored a run in the top of the fourth, the Thunder plated four runs in the bottom half on a pair of two-run homers.

After Yobal Duenas was hit by a pitch to start the inning, C Jason Brown collected a two-run homer, his 2nd of the season, for a 5-1 lead. LF Kevin Thompson slammed his 10th homer of the year off Smith later in the inning for a 7-1 advantage. Smith (3-7) allowed seven runs on nine hits in four innings in the loss.

Meanwhile, Thunder starter Matt DeSalvo pitched well again against Reading. DeSalvo (5-1), who tossed eight shutout innings against the Phillies on May 11th, allowed one run on three hits in seven innings for the win. He struck out three and didn't walk a batter. The only run for Reading (34-44) came on a groundout by DH Randy Ruiz in the 4th Inning.

The 15 hits for Trenton tied a season-high. It was also the 10th time in the last 14 games in which a Trenton starting pitcher has recorded a "quality start" (at least 6.0 IP with 3 ER or less).

After an off-day on Monday, the Thunder begin a three-game series with New Hampshire on Tuesday at 7:05 PM. Ramon Ramirez (3-4, 4.35) starts for the Thunder against the Fisher Cats' Zach jackson (2-1, 3.26).