Can’t Get Enough Of That Wonderful Duff

If the Scranton Yankees Twitter feed is to be believed, the Triple-A club has sent Grant Duff back to Trenton.  Because you just can’t fit that kind of information in 140 characters, there’s no word on a corresponding move for the Thunder…but no, seriously, I don’t know what the move is yet.

Duff, who was sent to the Arizona Fall League by the Yankees this off-season, made four appearances in his first regular season stint in the home of Dunder Mifflin, posting no record and a 6.00 ERA in six innings pitched.  He walked two, struck out six, and was credited with a hold.

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Drabek Dominates Thunder

(PR) Manchester, NH- Trenton had no answer for top prospect Kyle Drabek, as they fell in the rubber game to the Fisher Cats 3-0 on Memorial Day in Manchester, NH. With the loss, the Thunder fall to 29-21 on the season.

New Hampshire would strike first off RHP D.J. Mitchell, as Adam Loewen led off the second inning with a double and then scored on an RBI single by Manny Mayorson to give the Fisher Cats a 1-0 lead. After Mitchell (4-3) gave up a double to Darin Mastroianni and walked Callix Crabbe to start the third inning, Eric Thames hit an RBI single to right field, increasing the Fisher Cat lead, 2-0. A sacrifice fly by Brad Emaus brought in Crabbe, and at the end of three innings, New Hampshire led 3-0.

The closest Trenton got to scoring was in the sixth inning with runners at first and second base, but RHP Kyle Drabek was able to get Justin Christian to fly out to right field and end the threat.

Drabek (7-4) tossed eight shutout innings, and gave up four hits, while striking out four. Danny Farquhar came on in the ninth inning and retired the side in order to earn his twelfth save of the year.

For Trenton, Kevin Mahoney went 2-for-3 off Drabek. Austin Romine extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the fourth inning.

The Thunder return home to face the Portland Sea Dogs at Waterfront Park on Tuesday night starting at 7:05 PM. RHP Hector Noesi starts for the Thunder. Portland has yet to announce a starting pitcher.

Thunder Thump Fisher Cats, 13-2

(PR) Manchester, NH- The Thunder hit four home runs on their way to a 13-2 win over the Fisher Cats on Saturday night in New Hampshire. With the win, Trenton is now 29-20 on the season.

In the first inning, Trenton sent eight batters to the plate against LHP Luis Perez (5-4), and they scored five runs on three hits, highlighted by an opposite field, two-run homer by Marcos Vechionacci. Brandon Laird’s two-run home run in the fifth inning increased the Trenton lead to 7-0.

RHP Lance Pendleton (3-2) would give up only two runs in the game, coming in the bottom of the fifth inning when David Cooper hit a two-run home run to right field to put the Fisher Cats on the board and make it a 7-2 Trenton lead. After Justin Christian singled to begin the seventh inning off LHP Boomer Potts, Austin Krum launched a two-run home run to right field to give the Thunder a 9-2 cushion. It was Krum’s first home run of the season.

Pendleton went on to pitch seven full innings. He allowed two runs on four hits and walked two, while striking out six.

In the ninth inning, Trenton loaded the bases on RHP Danny Farquhar, and Daniel Brewer broke a 3-for-35 skid with a grand slam to right field, giving Trenton a 13-2 lead. It was the third grand slam of the year for the Thunder, and the second on the road in New Hampshire.

For Trenton, Justin Christian and Brandon Laird had three hits apiece. Trenton was 6-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

The Thunder and Fisher Cats conclude their series on Monday afternoon at 1:35 PM in Manchester, NH. RHP D.J. Mitchell will start for the Thunder, and will be opposed by RHP Kyle Drabek for New Hampshire.