South Jersey Baseball:
Seawolves Silence Thunder, 5-1

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

By Dan Loney
Trenton Thunder Director of Public Relations

(Trenton, NJ)- Virgil Vasquez scattered six hits and allowed one run in a complete-game win as Erie beat the Thunder, 5-1, on Wednesday night at Waterfront Park. The Northern Division lead for Trenton drops to 4 1/2 games with a win by Portland.

Vasquez allowed his only run of the night to Trenton (72-57) in the 2nd Inning. LF Justin Christian tripled to lead off the innings and scored on a ground out by Grant Plumley. Vasquez (7-11) walked one and struck out five en route to the win. He allowed just four singles after the Thunder scored their run in the 2nd Inning. Randy Ruiz had two of the six Thunder hits in the game.

Thunder starter Matt DeSalvo had a 1-0 lead and a "no-hitter" going through five innings, allowing one base runner on a walk in the 1st Inning. But in the 6th Inning, SS Adam haley led off with a double to right. After a pop up, CF Vince Blue singled home Haley for a 1-1 game. 2B Nick McIntyre hit what was going to be a double play to end the inning, but an error on Trenton kept the innings alive. Erie later added a bases loaded walk and a two-run double by RF Chris Maples to cap the inning. DeSalvo (3-4) took the loss allowing five runs (one earned) in six innings.

Trenton begins a nine-game road trip to Akron and Erie on Thursday. The trip starts with five games against Akron. Phil Hughes (8-3, 2.46) starts for the Thunder against Akron's Sean Smith (9-4, 3.26).