South Jersey Baseball:
Clippard Eclipses Two Thunder Records in 9-6 Win

Sunday, August 27, 2006

By Dan Loney
Trenton Thunder Director of Public Relations

(Akron, OH)- Tyler Clippard worked five innings and struck out five, while Randy Ruiz added four RBI, to help the Thunder to a 9-6 victory over Akron on Sunday afternoon. The win was the 74th of the season for the Thunder (74-68), matching their win total of 2005.

Clippard (12-10) allowed two runs to the Aeros in the 1st Inning, but settled down to get through five innings. His five strikeouts give him 167 on the season, which pass the record held by Robert Ramsey (166) since 1998. The win was Clippard's ninth straight, which surpasses the mark of eight in a row held by Carl Pavano (1996) and Tomo Ohka (1999).

Akron (82-52) jumped out to a 2-0 lead off Clippard in the 1st Inning, but Trenton came back to take a 3-2 lead in the 3rd Inning thanks to an RBI single by CF Brett Gardner and a two-run double by Ruiz. After adding a run in the 4th Inning, Ruiz doubled home two more runs in the 5th Inning for a 6-2 lead. RBI hits from C Omir Santos, RF Vince Faison and SS Felix Escalona in the 6th and 7th Inning gave the Thunder a 9-2 lead.

The Aeros scored twice in the 8th Inning and twice in the 9th Inning to close the gap to 9-6, but got no closer.

Trenton begins a four-game series in Erie, PA on Monday against the SeaWolves. Game time is 7:05 PM. Matt DeSalvo (3-4, 6.48) starts for Trenton against Erie's Virgil Vasquez (7-11, 4.03).