South Jersey Baseball:
Thunder End Regular Season with 7-2 Win

Monday, September 4, 2006

By Dan Loney
Trenton Thunder Director of Public Relations

(Trenton, NJ)- The Thunder scored six runs in the 1st inning, including a two-run homer by Randy Ruiz, in a 7-2 win over the Reading Phillies on Monday afternoon in the regular season finale. Trenton (80-62) begins the "Best Of Five" Northern Division Championship Series at Waterfront Park on Wednesday at 7:05 PM.

The Thunder had their first six batters of the game reach against Reading starter Gio Gonzalez. After a single by Gabe Lopez and a two-base error, DH Vince Faison singled home Lopez for a 1-0 lead. Ruiz followed with a two-run homer, his 26th of the season, for a 3-0 advantage. The Thunder added an RBI double by CF Justin Christian later in the innings for a 4-0 lead. The final two runs scored on a ground out and a sacrifice fly. Gonzalez (7-12) took the loss allowing seven runs on nine hits in six innings.

Thunder starter Francisco Butto (3-2) got the win allowing an unearned run in the 2nd Inning and a second run in the 6th Inning. Butto scattered five hits over seven innings with one walk and three strikeouts.

Reading finishes the season with a 71-69 record.

The Thunder begin the Northern Division Championship series on Wednesday at 7:05 PM. Phil Hughes (10-3, 2.25) starts for the Thunder against Portland's Devern Hansack (8-7, 3.26).