Trenton Thunder� 6,� Altoona Curve� 3 (box)
The Curve posted 15 hits but could only bring around 3 of those runners to score as they opened this series with the Thunder.� 3B Josh Harrison, LF Andrew Lambo, and RF Miles Durham had 3 hits each, and all three of Durham’s were doubles.� The Curve put at least one runner on base in every inning, but fell victim to 3 double plays, and left 14 runners on base.
Durham’s first double got the scoring started in the 2nd inning, as he scored on a single up the middle by C Kris Watts. The Curve didn’t score again until the 7th inning, when SS Chase d’Arnaud led off with a double.� Harrison dropped down a sacrifice bunt, but beat out the throw to first, giving the Curve runners on the corners, and leaving the Thunder without their manager — he was ejected after arguing the play.� Lambo singled up the middle, scoring d’Arnaud, but the next three batters were retired.� Lambo scored in the 9th, when he led off with a walk, went to third on 1B Matt Hague’s single, and scored on Durham’s third double of the game.
Rudy Owens pitched 5 scoreless innings, scattering 2 hits, 2 walks, and a hit batter.� He also struck out 3 batters.� The Curve were leading 1-0 when he left the game, and he was not involved in the decision.� The trouble began when Tom Boleska took the mound to begin the 6th inning.� The Thunder took advantage of a fielding error by d’Arnaud and a wild pitch, and with a walk and a single they scored 2 runs to take the lead.� The Curve tied the score in the bottom of the 7th, but Trenton grabbed the lead again in the top of the 8th.� Derek Hankins gave up a run on a walk, a single, and a sacrifice fly.� Hankins came back out to begin the top of the 9th.� He got the first out, then gave up a double, two stolen bases, and two RBI singles.� He got a strikeout, then gave up a wild pitch and another RBI single, giving the Thunder a 6-3 lead.� Hankins was relieved by Mike Colla, who also allowed a single, then got the final out of the inning.
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Lakewood Blue Claws� 17,� West Virginia Power� 3 (box)
The Blue Claws followed their 15-hit game on Monday with a 16-hit game on Tuesday, as they over-powered the Power.� The Power again recorded 10 hits, 3 of which were singles by DH David Rubinstein, but could only score 3 runs.
The game got out of hand early, with Lakewood bombarding starter Phillip Irwin with 10 runs on 10 hits in 4 innings.� Six runs came in during the 2nd inning, on a double, a single, a sacrifice fly, then a double, back-to-back homers, then after a ground out, the third homer of the inning.� They added another 4 runs in the 4th, on a single, a triple, a walk, and a 3-run homer.
The Power scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 2nd, when LF Rogelios Noris singled, went to second on C Jairo Marquez’s grounder to short, and scored on 3B Jesus Brito’s double.� Marquez, who was safe on a fielding error, scored on an RBI ground out by SS Elevys Gonzalez. Marquez gave the Power their third run in the 6th, with his first home run of the season.� Rubinstein and CF Evan Chambers both singled in the 5th, and Gonzalez and Rubinstein hit back-to-back singles in the 7th, but they were all left on base.� Rubinstein and Chambers both walked in the 9th inning, but with the same result.
Mike Williams took over for Irwin in the 5th, and he retired the side in order in that inning.� Then he gave up a 2-run homer in the 6th, and another run in the 8th on a walk and a single.� Zach Foster pitched the 9th inning, and was responsible for another 4 Lakewood runs (2 earned).� One run scored on a double, a single, and an RBI ground out.� A fielding error by Brito kept things going, and a single,� a walk, a wild pitch, and another RBI ground out added 3 more runs.
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Lowell Spinners� 5,� State College Spikes� 2 (box)
The Spikes’ pitchers were busy giving up hits — a total of 16 — so it was surprising that Lowell did not score more than 5 runs.� Zack Von Rosenberg surrendered 8 hits in 5 innings, no walks, but gave up only 2 runs, both of which were solo home runs in the 2nd inning.� He worked around runners on base in 4 of his 5 innings.� Casey Sadler pitched one inning, and allowed a run on 2 hits (single and double).� Jhonatan Ramos pitched 2 innings, and allowed a run in each of them on a total of 6 hits.� Von Rosenberg was charged with the loss.
For the first 5 innings, the Spikes were held to just 2 hits, both singles by LF Adalberto Santos. CF Mel Rojas doubled in the 6th.� The Spikes scored their first run in the 7th, on a double by DH Andy Vasquez and an RBI single by 1B Gerlis Rodriguez. They scored again in the 9th, with a little help from the Spinners.� 2B Walker Gourley was hit by a pitch, then 3B Kelson Brown grounded into a force out, replacing Gourley at first base.� RF Cole White doubled, moving Brown to third, and a wild pitch let Brown score.
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