South Jersey Baseball:
Thunder Fall to Sea Dogs, 2-1

Saturday, August 19, 2006

By Dan Loney
Trenton Thunder Director of Public Relations

(Trenton, NJ)- Brandon Moss' sacrifice fly in the 10th Inning scored the go-ahead run to give the Portland Sea Dogs a 2-1 win over the Thunder on Saturday night. The loss drops Trenton's lead in the Northern Division to 5 1/2 games over the Sea Dogs.

Trenton (70-55) took a 1-0 lead in the 1st Inning on a solo homer by SS Felix Escalona, his 8th of the season, but Portland (64-60) came back to tie the game in the 4th Inning against Trenton starter Phil Hughes on an RBI single by 1B Luis Jimenez. Hughes allowed one run in five innings, as did Portland starter Frank Brooks.

The Sea Dogs missed several chances to score against the Thunder bullpen as they had runners in scoring position in the 6th and 7th Innings, but hit into double plays. Meanwhile, the Sea Dogs pen blanked Trenton without a hit in 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th Innings.

Portland took a 2-1 lead in the 10th Inning as they loaded the bases with one out against Thunder reliever Justin Pope. Moss delivered a sacrifice fly that scored LF Matt Van Der Bosch. Trenton got a double from 3B Grant Plumley starting the the bottom of the tenth and got him to 3rd Base with one out, but Kyle Jackson got the next two hitters to end the game and earn his 1st save. The win went to Edgar Martinez (4-3), who worked two shutout innings. Pope (2-2) allowed one run in two innings for the loss.

The series concludes on Sunday at 1:35 PM. Carl Pavano is scheduled to pitch for the Thunder on a Major League Rehab Assignment. Andrew Dobies (0-1, 4.41) starts for the Sea Dogs.