ROSTER MOVE: The Thunder have transferred Kevin Russo to the Gulf Coast League. They were at 26 players, and needed to make a move to get to the limit of 24 by opening day. Carlos Mendoza was also officially transferred to Trenton, and Brett Smith was officially placed on the DL.
Game 1 - Trenton Thunder @ Binghamton Mets
April 3, 2008
NYSEG Stadium - Binghamton, NY
Pitching Matchup: TRE Chase Wright (NR) vs. BNG Jon Niese (NR)
Starting Lineups:
Trenton
1 - Ramiro Pena, SS
2 - Austin Jackson, CF
3 - Jose Tabata, RF
4 - Colin Curtis, LF
5 - Matt Carson, DH
6 - Cody Ehlers, 1B
7 - P.J. Pilittere, C
8 - Marcos Vechionacci, 3B
9 - Reegie Corona, 2B
Binghamton
1 - Fernando Martinez, CF
2 - Emmanuel Garcia, 2B
3 - Dan Murphy, 3B
4 - Nick Evans, 1B
5 - Mike Carp, DH
6 - Jamar Hill, LF
7 - Salomon Manriquez, C
8 - Jose Coronado, SS
9 - Ambiorix Concepcion, RF
Pre-Game Notes: The Thunder are 7-7 in season openers. They haven’t won a season opener since 2004, when they beat Erie, 8-2. This will be Chase Wright’s second consecutive Opening Day start for Trenton. Niese is the 8th best prospect in the Mets system according to Baseball America.
Chad Jennings is reporting that the Yankees have signed C Chris Stewart and assigned him to Triple-A. Jason Brown has been sent to the Gulf Coast League, but is probably still with the team…it’s known as a “paper move.”
The pitching matchups for the rest of the series have been set:
4/4: TRE Daniel McCutchen vs. BNG Bobby Parnell
4/5: TRE George Kontos vs. BNG Jose Sanchez
4/6: TRE Phil Coke vs. BNG Eric Brown
Radio Links: Click here to access Steve Rudenstein’s call on WBUD. This is Steve’s first game in the lead role after taking over for Dan Loney, so congrats to Rudy on that….
Scores Around The Eastern League: Click here to see how the competition is doing.
Live Box Score: The MILB.com box score is here.
Fearless Prediction: Wright dominates while Niese struggles in his first Double-A action. 6-1 Thunder.
In-Game Updates (if any): This is a road game, and I’m at Yankee Stadium doing work. If I can post any updates, I will…but more than likely, talk amongst yourselves.
** Looks like both pitchers are dealing so far. 2 K’s through one for Chase, 3 K’s through two for Niese. No hits or walks.
** Scratch that. Carp took Wright yard. 1-0 B-Mets through 2, but 4 K’s for Chase so far.
** Hughes is freaking dealing here in the Bronx. He struck out Stairs and Rios to end the first. Looks like the guy I saw back in 2006. Sounds stupid, but it’s rewarding to see him pitch up here. I never thought I’d cover the big leagues, so to be here seeing the same guy I got to know in Mercer County just two years ago is nice.
** Sorry to jinx Jon Niese, but the Thunder are hitless through 3. Reegie Corona has walked, but that’s it so far…
** Inbetween watching Hughes retire his first nine batters and listening to the new Day 26 album (highly recommend it, by the way) I checked in on Steve’s broadcast on WBUD. He mentioned Carp’s home run was to right field. You should check out Steve’s broadcast, sounds like he’s doing a great job.
Odd to listen to one game while watching another one, by the way. Steve says it’s 2-0 now. Wright just hit Jamar Hill now…so I don’t think he’s doing quite as well as I’d thought he might.
** Looks like our new buddy Chad Jennings has got a 2-0 game on his hands as well. But this time, the Yankees affiliate is the beneficiary. He says on his blog that Jason Lane homered into the bullpen for one of SWB’s runs.
** And the first hit of the season for the Thunder goes to Jose Tabata. 2-0 Mets through four.
** 2-0 Binghamton through five. Over here at the stadium, Hughes is human, apparently. He gave up an RBI single to Alex Rios. 1-0 Jays in the 4th.
** You don’t get to see Hall of Famers ejected in the minors, that’s for sure. The Big Hurt went big crazy on a called third strike and was kindly asked to leave the premises by the gentleman wearing blue.
** Same score after 6. Niese is out after 5, relieved by Aguilar. 5 IP, 1 H, 1 BB and 5 K’s is the line for Niese. Great call by me to say he’d get rocked…
** Hold up two fingers. Any two. That’s how many hits Trenton has through seven innings. Clearly, they’re still losing, 2-0, in the bottom of the 7th. Matt Carson has the team’s second knock. Cody Ehlers had a rough Opening Day last year with two errors (after the third one was generously taken away) and is 0-3 with 2 K’s in this one so far…
** 2-0 through seven complete. Chase Wright’s line: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 K, 1 HR. David Robertson is in now. Sadly, Kathleen Robertson is nowhere to be found.
** Chad Jennings says Kei Igawa is perfect through five. I checked the date to be safe…and nope, it isn’t April Fools.
** Going to have to start heading home soon, but the Thunder are down 2-0 after top 8. Doesn’t seem like I’ll have too much to with the recap in terms of offense…
** That’s it, boys and girls. The 4 train, then a shuttle, then an eight block walk. Then a train to Newark, and another train home. Then a 20 minute drive. Long ride home. Talk amongst yourselves…
Final Score: 2-0, Binghamton
Post-Game Notes: That marks four straight season opener losses for the Thunder.
Thunder Thoughts: I will have some exciting news regarding a few Thunder alumni features posted for you tomorrow.
Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com
April 4, 2008 at 11:37 am
[...] has a live blog of the game here. He wasn’t actually at the game but he did do in-game updates. Nice work Mike! Also, check [...]