Thunder capture 1st win in marathon

It took 14 innings, but the Trenton Thunder won their first game of the season last night, 5-4 over the Binghamton Mets.

Here's the recap from the Thunder press release.

Binghamton 4 12 3
Trenton 5 10 4
(14 innings)

WP- Josh Schmidt (1-0)
LP- Nick Abel (0-1)
SV-
Time- 4:42
Att- 3,407

(Trenton, NJ)- Trenton Third baseman Marcos Vechionacci connected on the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 14th to lift Trenton to a 5-4 win over Binghamton on Thursday night from Waterfront Park. It was the first 14-inning game for Trenton since August 26, 2007 (3-2 loss to Binghamton).

In the 14th inning, Trenton Shortstop Eduardo Nunez led off with a walk against Binghamton reliever Nick Abel (0-1). After a sacrifice bunt by Trenton second baseman Reegie Corona, Left fielder Colin Curtis was intentionally walked. Right fielder Edwar Gonzalez then walked to load the bases. Vechionacci followed with the game-winning single to plate Nunez with the winning run. Nunez finished the game with three hits and three runs scored. Trenton Reliever Josh Schmidt (1-0) picked up the win with two shutout innings of relief.

Binghamton (0-1) took a 4-3 lead in the 12th inning, before Trenton tied the game in the bottom half of the frame. Gonzalez was hit by a pitch to force home the tying run. Earlier, Trenton (1-1) tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning. With two outs, and Trenton Pinch-runner Justin Snyder at second base, Corona connected on an infield single. Snyder moved to third on the hit, and advanced home on an error by Binghamton Second baseman Matt Bouchard.

Trenton jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Trenton Right fielder Edwar Gonzalez lifted a sacrifice fly RBI which scored Thunder Shortstop Eduardo Nunez from third base. After Binghamton tied the game in the second inning on an RBI single by Designated Hitter Carl Loadenthal, Trenton re-captured the lead on an RBI single by Nunez off of Binghamton Starting Pitcher Dylan Owen. Binghamton tied the game in the fifth inning on an RBI double by Third baseman Shawn Bowman. Binghamton took a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning on a solo home run by Right fielder Caleb Stewart.

Owen yielded only three hits and two runs over five innings to pick up the win. Trenton Starting Pitcher George Kontos tossed five innings and allowed seven hits and two runs. He received a no-decision. Kontos also struck out seven and only walked one. Trenton Reliever Jose Valdez struck out four batters in the 10th inning. Trenton's pitching staff struck out 18 Binghamton batters in the game.


Trenton and Binghamton will play the third game of the four-game series on Friday night at Waterfront Park. RHP Zach McAllister (0-0, 0.00) will start for Trenton against Binghamton RHP Jose Sanchez (0-0, 0.00). Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.