South Jersey Baseball:
Ruiz, Thunder "Walkoff" with 7-6 Win

Monday, August 21, 2006

By Dan Loney
Trenton Thunder Director of Public Relations

(Trenton, NJ)- Randy Ruiz's two-run home run in the bottom of the 9th Inning powered the Thunder to a 7-6 win over Erie on Monday night at Waterfront Park.

Trenton (71-56) trailed 6-2 in the 6th Inning, but got a run back on a triple by CF Brett Gardner and a single from SS Felix Escalona to close the gap by a run. The Thunder got to within 6-5 in the 7th Inning on an RBI single by Gardner and a wild pitch from Erie reliever Mark Woodyard that allowed 3B Grant Plumley to score. In the 9th Inning, 2B J.T. Stotts led off the inning with a single. After two straight outs, Ruiz launched a 1-2 pitch from Chris Homer over the centerfield wall for the game-winner.

It was Ruiz's second homer of the night, giving him 23 for the year and the lead in the Eastern League. Gerardo Casadiego worked one scoreless inning and got the win. Homer (1-4) allowed two runs in 2/3 inning for the loss.

The SeaWolves (56-71) got a solid outing from starter Jon Connolly as he hedl Trenton to two runs over six innings, solo homers by Plumley and Ruiz. Thunder starter Matt Childers worked through eight innings and allowed six runs. He surrendered a three-run homer to SeaWolves 1B Kelly Hunt in the 6th Inning that, at the time, put Erie ahead, 6-2, before the Thunder rally.

The series continues on Tuesday at 7:05 PM. Trenton's Tyler Clippard (10-10, 3.56) will make his first start since his "no-hitter" on Thursday in Harrisburg, PA. Nate Bumstead (7-11, 4.33) starts for the SeaWolves.