(Trenton, NJ) – It seems like anytime the Thunder have won at home this season, they’ve relied on their pitching for quality innings and big-time outs. On Wednesday night in game 2 of their series with Mahoning Valley, the story stayed the same as the Trenton arms combined for a two-hit shutout victory. Oregon commit Ryan Birchard was lights out in his second start of the season, throwing three perfect innings and striking out five.
Newcomer Eli Trop was the first out of the bullpen in the fourth inning, going one and a third before turning things over to Brett Thomas. The South Carolina product got the final two outs of the 5th and struck out one of the two batters he faced. Robert Wegielnik out of Florida Atlantic struck out two and stranded a pair in the sixth before passing the proverbial bullpen torch to Carlton Perkins. Perkins picked up his first win on the year after going two strong and striking out three. Earning their first save of the season was Garret French who added two strikeouts in the final frame.
Your Thunder got on the board in the third inning cashing in one run on two hits. Shortstop Jacob Hinderleider started his two-for-two night with a single up the middle. He would come around to score on an opposite field double from right fielder Evan Sleight, who drove in his league leading 18th run of the season. Hyatt Regency Princeton Thunder Player of the Game Chris Brito earned his honors with a two-RBI double in the sixth inning. After Brian Skettini reached on an error and an Angel Mendoza walk, Brito blasted a double into the left-center gap that scored both and gave the Thunder a 3-0 lead.
Trenton scored three runs on seven hits and left eight runners on base. The pitching was the driving force in this one, combining for 14 punch outs and only allowing two hits in the shutout victory. Your Thunder go for the series sweep against the Scrappers on Thursday June 22nd at 7:00. Come out to Trenton Thunder Ballpark for Hometown Heroes Night and Post Game Fireworks! To purchase tickets, call (609)-394-3300, Opt 4 or visit trentonthunder.com.
