(Trenton, NJ) – Your Trenton Thunder came up big in the late innings of game two against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers on Saturday night. After jumping out to a 5-0 lead and later falling behind 7-5 in the seventh inning, the Thunder bats poured in four runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 9-7 lead.
Trenton’s offense came in bunches on Saturday night, putting up two four spots in their half of the third and again in the eighth. The Thunder got on the board in the first inning when Ramon Jimenez knocked in his 23rd RBI of the season on a groundout to third that plated Kolby Johnson to make it 1-0. In the third, Trenton got 4 runs on three hits that included an Anthony Fontana sacrifice-fly to center that brought home the final run of the inning.
Mahoning Valley responded in their half of the fourth with a three-spot of their own to make it a two run contest at 5-3. They later tied the game in their half of the sixth inning. They took their first lead of the game in the seventh when Matt Sykes blasted a two-run homerun over the left-field wall that made it 7-5. The big fly at the time felt like all the momentum switched to the Scrappers side, that was until the bottom of the eighth came along and the Thunder had a rally in store of their own.
With one run across in the inning already and the bases loaded, Kolby Johnson stepped up to the plate with two down and delivered a bases clearing double off the right field wall. Johnson missed a grandslam by a matter of inches in hitting his second double of the game. The Hyatt Regency Princeton Thunder Player of the Game finished with his line at 4-5 with 4 RBIs, two runs, and a stolen base.
“If the Draft League had an M-V-P award, Kolby Johnson would absolutely be a candidate for this season” said Thunder Manager Jeff Manto.
Earning their first win of the season out of the bullpen was right-handed reliever David Stiehl. Picking up their third save on the season was Seton Hall product Brennan O’Neil who set down the Scrappers in order, capping off the night with a strikeout for the final out.
Your First Half Champion Thunder moved to 18-19 (37-26 overall) on the second half. The final game of the series between your Trenton Thunder and the Mahoning Valley Scrappers is set for Sunday August 27th at . Come out to Trenton Thunder Ballpark for Post Game Fireworks and Indian Herritage Night! To purchase tickets, call (609)-394-3300, Opt 4 or visit trentonthunder.com.
