(Trenton, NJ) – For the second time in three days, the Thunder got six innings from their starter and brushed off the Crosscutters to win their weekend series at Trenton Thunder Ballpark. In their first Sunday night home game this season, **Joe Joe Rodriguez **wrapped up the six-game homestand with his second win after starting it off with his second loss. The Thunder left 6-2 winners after scoring three runs in the third and fifth and now they go into the final month of the season at 23-23 with an off day on Monday, August 1.
Rodriguez got three double play balls up the middle in the second, third, and fifth with the combo of **Dilan Espinal **and **Troy Banks **helping the righthander keep his pitch count down. The Crosscutters did score in the second on **Nicholas Hussey’s **two-out single before the Thunder took over in the third against Crosscutters lefty Brandon Kaminer. Espinal worked a one out walk and **Damian Yenzi **backed him up with a single to put two runners aboard. Three straight run scoring singles from Kolby Blanchard, Paul Coumoulos, and **Christian Merriwether **widened the lead to 3-1, which was more than enough for Rodriguez and the Thunder bullpen.
In the fifth, **Jesse Hall **led off with a single and moved to second on **Nemo Wright’s **sacrifice bunt. **Travis Holt’s **strong series at the plate continued with an RBI single to trim the Trenton lead to 2-1, but Rodriguez (2-2) got another 4-6-3 double play before a perfect sixth inning to close out his night. The offense tacked on three more on the sixth on Coumoulos’ second run batted in and a two-RBI triple from **Mark Herron Jr. **into the gap in right center. Jose Ledesma, Christian Capuano, and **DJ Wilkinson **each worked an inning to cover the last nine outs and extend the bullpen’s scoreless innings streak to nine straight.
The Thunder return home for another weekend series against the Crosscutters on Friday, August 5 at 7:00 PM! For full ticket pricing and information for the rest of the 2022 season, partnership/sponsorship opportunities, and information about special events at Trenton Thunder Ballpark, please visit trentonthunder.com or call the Thunder Box Office at (609) 394-3300, opt 4.
New Jersey's Baseball Team | Founding Member of the MLB Draft League
The Trenton Thunder have drawn over 10 million fans over 28 years and have won the three major awards that Minor League Baseball teams can win; the Johnson Trophy for the “Nation's Best Franchise”, the Larry MacPhail Trophy for Outstanding Club Promotion, and the Bob Frietas Award for Long-Term Success, given by Baseball America. The team has given back over $7.5 million worth of goods, services, and monetary donations through Trenton Thunder Charities, under the Grand Slam We Care Foundation umbrella. The Thunder can be found online at trentonthunder.com, facebook.com/trentonthunder, twitter.com/trentonthunder, and on youtube.com/AATrentonThunder.
