Meet The Mets, Beat The Mets, Thunder Step Right Up And Destroy The Mets

(PR) (Binghamton, NY)- Trenton Third baseman Marcos Vechionacci hit two home runs to help Trenton to a 12-2 victory over Binghamton on Friday night from NYSEG Stadium in Binghamton, NY. The 12 runs for Trenton was a season-high. 20 hits was one shy of Trenton’s season-high in hits.

Trenton (34-32) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Center fielder Austin Krum walked, and advanced to third base on a double by Second baseman Reegie Corona. Krum scored on a sacrifice fly RBI by Shortstop Eduardo Nunez. The Thunder increased the lead to 4-0 with three runs in the third inning. With two outs in the inning and Corona at first base, Nunez connected on an RBI triple to score Corona. Left fielder Noah Hall followed with an RBI single to make it 3-0. Later in the inning, First baseman Chris Malec picked up an RBI single for a 4-0 lead.

Trenton added three runs in the fourth inning. Vechionacci led off with a home run off of Binghamton Starting Pitcher Eric Niesen (0-2) to increase the lead to 5-0. Later in the frame, Hall had a sacrifice fly RBI, and Montero connected on an RBI single. The lead swelled to 10-0 with a three-run fifth inning. After a lead-off single by outfielder Edwar Gonzalez, Vechionacci belted his second home run of the game, a two-run shot, to make it 9-0. It was the first time this season that a Thunder player has hit two home runs in one game. Gonzalez’s single broke an 0 x 33 hitless drought. Nunez capped off the scoring in the inning with an RBI single. Nunez had three RBI in the win. Vechionacci picked up his fourth RBI of the game in the sixth inning on an RBI groundout. He finished the game 2 x 6 with two runs, two home runs, and four RBI. Gonzalez connected on an RBI double in the 7th inning to extend the lead to 12-0. Eight Trenton players had multi-hit games. Montero and Malec each had three-hit games.

Trenton Starting Pitcher Josh Schmidt tossed 4 2/3 shutout innings. He was one out short of qualifying for the win. He scattered five hits and struck out one. Trenton Reliever Michael Dunn (2-2) hurled 2 1/3 shutout innings to earn the win in relief of Schmidt. Niesen (0-2) lost his second straight start against Trenton. He allowed nine hits and seven runs in four innings to take the loss.

Trenton and Binghamton will play a double-header on Saturday night. Both starting pithers are TBD for the first game. RHP Kanekoa Texeira (5-4, 3.83) will start for Trenton in the second game. Binghamton’s starting pitcher for the second game is TBD. The start time for the first game of the double-header is 5:05 p.m.

Pinstripe Alley Interview

I did an interview over with the guys at Pinstripe Alley, which you can check out by going here…

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Pitching Matchups @ Binghamton

6/19: TRE  Josh Schmidt (4-1, 1.36) vs. BNG Eric Niesen (0-1, 9.00)
6/20, G1: TRE Wilkin de la Rosa (3-4, 4.30) vs. BNG TBA
6/20, G2: TRE Kanekoa Texeira (5-4, 3.83) vs. BNG TBA
6/21: TRE Zach McAllister (5-3, 1.81) vs. BNG Eric Brown (4-5, 4.81)

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Updating The Chris Malec Situation

I wasn’t at the ballpark, or any ballpark last night.  I simply needed a day off, so I took one.

However, Times beat writer John Nalbone was at the park and filed this report on Chris Malec being removed from Wednesday night’s game for “internal reasons” as well as last night’s game, which Trenton won, 2-0.

He’s also got an update on Jesus Montero and Jorge Vazquez.

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Defenders Have No Offense In Thunder Victory

(PR) Trenton scored two runs in the seventh inning to break a scoreless tie and go on for a 2-0 win over Connecticut on Thursday night from Waterfront Park. The win snapped a three-game losing streak, and the Thunder finished its seven-game homestand 3-4.

In the seventh inning, First baseman Kevin Smith was hit by a pitch by Connecticut Reliever Ben Snyder (3-2) to start the inning. Third baseman Marcos Vechionacci followed with a single to move Smith up to second base. Second baseman Justin Snyder then dropped a bunt down the third base line. Catcher Jackson Williams fielded the bunt and made an errant throw down the first base line. The error loaded the bases with no outs. Center fielder Austin Krum was the next hitter and drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to score Smith. Left fielder Noah Hall followed with a sacrifice fly RBI to plate Vechionacci and increase the lead to 2-0. Vechionacci went 2 x 3 in the win with a run.

Trenton (33-32) Starting Pitcher Ryan Pope hurled 5 2/3 shutout innings for a no-decision. He scattered five hits and did not walk a batter. He struck out two. Thunder Reliever Wilkins Arias (1-1) earned the win in relief with 1 1/3 perfect innings. Three Trenton Relievers tossed a combined 3 1/3 perfect innings to end the game. Connecticut Second baseman Brock Bond was the last Defender batter to reach base with a lead-off infield single in the sixth inning. Thunder Reliever Amaury Sanit pitched the ninth inning for his eighth save on the season. Snyder took the loss for Connecticut. He allowed one hit and two runs (one earned) in 1/3 inning. Connecticut Starting Pitcher Brooks McNiven tossed five shutout innings, but received a no-decision. The shutout was Trenton’s ninth of the season, which leads the Eastern League. Trenton had its lead-off man on base in every inning following the third inning.

Trenton starts a road trip on Friday night with the first game of a four-game series in Binghamton. RHP Josh Schmidt (4-1, 1.36) will start for Trenton against Binghamton LHP Eric Niesen (0-1, 9.00) Game time for Friday night is set for 7:05 p.m.