Thunder Strike in 5th Inning, Win 8-7 in game 1

Portland's firepower from the plate wasn't enough as the Trenton Thunder slugged 15 hits to win game 1 of a doubleheader, 8-7. The game featured 4 Home Runs, 3 by the Sea Dogs, but it was the 4-run 5th inning for the Thunder that proved to be the difference.

The Sea Dogs took an early lead in the 1st inning, as Ryan Lavarnway blasted his team-leading 9th Home Run over the monster. Thunder starter Kei Igawa (a former Yankee big-leaguer) had given up 3 runs without getting an out. Naturally Igawa got out of the inning without another hiccup, sandwiching a ground-out with two strikeouts.

The Thunder would cut the lead to 3-2 in the 3rd inning. Cody Johnson hit a 2-run Homer to deep center after Austin Romine drew a lead-off walk against Portland starter Stephen Fife.

The Sea Dogs would answer with 2 runs of their own in the bottom of the 3rd. Lavarnway led off with a walk on 4 pitches. 2 batters later Chih-Hsien Chiang cranked a 2-run Homer into the Pavilion in right field, making it 5-2 Portland.

Trenton would score 2 more runs in the 4th inning, as the pitchers were getting the short end of the stick. A single, a walk, and another single loaded the bases with no outs. Corban Joseph would then ground into a double-play, but Addison Maruszak would score on the play. Austin Romine would then hit an infield single to score another run, again cutting the Sea Dog lead to one run.

Trenton took the lead in the 5th inning, and wouldn't look back. Jose Pirela led off with a triple that went just over the glove of Alex Hassan in left field and bounced off the scoreboard on the Maine Monster. After Damon Sublett struck out, Maruszak hit a sacrifice fly to score Pirela and tie the game at 5-5. Yadil Mujica would then single on a grounder to 3rd, ending Fife's outing. Seth Garrison would come on in relief, but with no different result. Garrison gave up 3 straight hits, including a 2-run double by Joseph and an RBI single by Romine to make it 8-5 Trenton.

The Sea Dogs would score 2 runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the deficit. Lavarnway hit another Monster shot to give him 10 homers on the season, and Will Middlebrooks hit an RBI double to score Tim Federowicz.

Lavarnway had a chance to end the game with a 3rd Home Run in the 7th, but struck out swinging, which was the first time the Thunder got the Sea Dog DH out. Federowicz would then pop out, and Middlebrooks grounded out to end the game.

Fife took the loss, his 3rd of the season. in 4 2/3 innings, he gave up 6 runs on 11 hits, with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts.

Wilkins Arias picked up his 2nd win in relief. The lefty pitched 2 innings, giving up 2 runs on 2 hits, with 1 walk and no strikeouts.

Josh Schmidt picked up his 5th save of the season, allowing only Alex Hassan's lead-off single in the seventh before retiring the next 3 batters to end the game.

Every Thunder batter recorded a hit, as Maruszak finished 3 for 3 with an RBI, a run, and a walk.

Lavarnway went 2 for 3 with 4 RBIs, 3 runs, and a walk.

The Sea Dogs fall to 13-32 on the season, and the Thunder improve to 29-18.