Offense Lets Nuding Down Again

(PR) (Bowie, MD) – Tyler Austin drilled a two-run home run three hitters into the contest but then Bowie did not allow another run to Trenton the rest of the night as the Baysox topped the Thunder, 4-2, in the opener of a four-game series Friday night at Prince George’s Stadium. Bowie won for the ninth time in its last 11 games while Trenton dropped its third straight and fell to 24-24 on the season.

Austin’s blast, his third of the season, came against Bowie starter Devin Jones (3-2) one out after Ramon Flores had led off the game with a single. Jones then made it through five innings, allowing five hits and recording five strikeouts.

Reliever Jason Gurka continued his dominance of the Eastern League with three shutout innings while protecting a one-run lead, while closer Zech Zinicola tossed a scoreless ninth to record his seventh save.

Steven Bumbry’s solo home run against Trenton starter Zach Nuding (1-6) brought Bowie within 2-1 in the second inning. Niuman Romero later gave the Baysox the lead with a bases loaded two-run single in the fourth. Nuding allowed three runs and six hits in five innings of work.

Bumbry added an insurance run with an RBI single in the eighth against reliever Branden Pinder. He led the Baysox with two hits and two RBI on the night. Flores and Walter Ibarra each collected two of Trenton’s eight hits.

The second game of the series is scheduled to be played Saturday night beginning at 6:35 pm. Left-hander Matt Tracy (4-3) expected to start for the Thunder while the Baysox counter with knuckleball-throwing righty Eddie Gamboa. Radio coverage on 91.3 FM (WTSR) and also streaming online begins at 6:20 pm.

Teixeira To Rehab With Thunder On Wednesday, Thursday

(PR) (TRENTON, NJ) – According to multiple media reports, All-Star First Baseman Mark Teixeira is expected to play in Trenton on a rehabilitation assignment Wednesday, May 29 (10:35am) and Thursday, May 30 (7:05pm) as the Thunder face the Erie SeaWolves (Detroit). The assignment is contingent on the weather and Teixeira’s continued progress with his rehab work at the Yankees Minor League complex in Tampa.

Teixeira has been out since early March with a partially torn tendon sheath in his right wrist that he suffered while playing with Team USA prior to the World Baseball Classic.

Teixeira, a 10-year MLB veteran and two-time All-Star (2005, 2009), joined the Yankees in 2009. Last season he batted .251 with 24 HR and 84 RBI in 123 games with New York. The career .279 hitter has won three Silver Slugger Awards (2004-05, 09), five Gold Glove Awards (2005-06, 2009-10, 12), and was a member of New York’s 2009 World Series Championship team.

Triple Play Ends Thunder Threat

(PR) (Richmond, VA) – Richmond outscored Trenton 7-1 after the top of the sixth inning and ended the contest by turning a triple play as the Flying Squirrels earned a split in the four-game series with a 9-4 win over the Thunder Thursday night at The Diamond. The Squirrels collected 25 baserunners in eight innings and won despite stranding 16 runners on base in a three hour, 27 minute slugfest.
Richmond had at least one batter reach base in each time at-bat over the final two games of the series, recording a remarkable 45 baserunners in 16 innings during that span. The Flying Squirrels left 30 men on base in those two contests, which combined to last a total of nearly seven hours.

Trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the sixth, Richmond rallied for four runs against relievers Francisco Rondon (2-3) and Danny Burawa. Rondon loaded the bases with one out on two walks and an error and was pulled in favor of Burawa, who allowed consecutive two-run doubles to Javier Herrera and Ryan Lollis.

After the Thunder scored a run and stranded the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, Mark Minicozzi smashed a Burawa pitched well over the centerfield fence for a two-run home run in the bottom of the inning to increase the Richmond lead to 8-4. Joe Panik’s RBI single in the eighth completed the scoring.

Trenton put runners on first and second with none out in the ninth against reliever Scott Shuman, who then worked a full count against the Thunder’s Tyler Austin. Austin lined the 3-2 pitch to Panik at shortstop, who caught the ball, tagged second base for a force and then threw back to first to complete the rare triple play.

Chris Gloor (3-1) defeated Trenton for the second time in as many starts against the Thunder this season. He allowed a two-run double to Slade Heathcott in the sixth that put Trenton ahead 3-2. Jose Pirela also homered against Gloor in the fourth inning.

In addition to starting a triple play, Panik went 3-for-4 with two walks, two runs scored and an RBI. Lollis reached base five times, going 3-for-3 with a walk, a hit by pitch and two RBI. Herrera went 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored.

Trenton next heads to Bowie for a four-game series against the Baysox, with game one scheduled for Friday at 7:05 pm. Right-hander Zach Nuding (1-5, 3.28) is expected to start for the Thunder against righty Devin Jones (2-2, 4.85) in the opener. Radio coverage on 91.3 FM (WTSR) and also streaming online begins at 6:50 pm.

Boland: Teixeira In Trenton Tuesday?

According to a tweet for Newsday’s Erik Boland, New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira may rehab with the Trenton Thunder at Arm & Hammer Park on Tuesday.

The two-time Major League All-Star recently started swinging a bat again for the first time since March, when he injured his right wrist.  He’s participated in simulated games, and while his target date to return was believed to be in mid-June, that timetable seems to be accelerated if he plans on being ready by the time the Thunder return home in five days.

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Ramirez Turns In A Clunker

(PR) (Richmond, VA) – Tyler Austin grounded out to shortstop with the tying and winning runs in scoring position to end the game and a late comeback attempt by the Trenton Thunder in a 5-4 loss to the Richmond Flying Squirrels Wednseday night at The Diamond. Richmond led 5-1 after seven innings and held on to win for the first time in three games during the series despite stranding 14 runners on base in the three hour, 30 minute marathon.
Kyle Roller’s opposite-field three-run home run against reliever Tom Vessella brought the Thunder to within one run with one out in the eighth inning. It was his team-leading sixth of the season and third hit of the night. Lefty specialist Phil McCormick then came in and retired the final two batters in the eighth.

Ali Castillo led off the ninth against McCormick by reaching on a fielding error by third baseman Adam Duvall. After Kevin Mahoney fly out, Jose Pirela worked a walk to put runners on first and second. Walter Ibarra then grounded out to third but advanced Castillo to third and Pirela to second base, prompting Richmond to call upon righty Edwin Quirarte.

The side-arm righty Quirarte, pitching for the third straight night in the series, got Austin to ground his first pitch easily to shortstop Ehire Adrianza for a 6-3 putout that ended the game. Quirarte picked up his third save of the season.

Trenton starter Jose Ramirez (0-2) lasted on 1.2 innings and struggled with command, walking five and throwing three wild pitches. Brett Krill’s two-run double in the second put Richmond ahead 2-1 against Ramirez.

Jeremy Bleich entered in relief and allowed three more runs in his 3.1 innings of work. Duvall’s two-run triple to right center in the fourth extended Richmond’s lead to 4-1, while Krill’s second RBI double of the game plated the fifth Squirrels run in the fifth.

Richmond collected 20 baserunners in eight innings on the night – 12 hits, seven walks and a hit batter – in a game in which neither team recorded a 1-2-3 inning. Taylor Rogers (2-2) worked 1.1 scoreless innings in relief of Squirrels starter Fabio Castillo to earn the win.

The finale of the four-game series is scheduled to be played Thursday night beginning at 6:35 pm. Left-hander Nik Turley (4-2, 4.46) expected to start for the Thunder while the Flying Squirrels counter with lefty Chris Gloor (2-1, 4.95). Radio coverage on 91.3 FM (WTSR), 1490 AM (WBCB) and also streaming online begins at 6:20 pm.

Tracy Outstanding In Shutout Win

(PR) Richmond, VA) – Matt Tracy combined with three relievers on a four-hit shutout and Trenton scored three times in the eighth en route to a 3-0 win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels Tuesday night at The Diamond. Slade Heathcott’s two-run double highlighted the late rally as Trenton took its second straight game to begin the roadtrip.
Tracy worked six innings and allowed only two hits and two walks, striking out seven in the process. Matt Daley (1-0) went the next 1.2 innings before Francisco Rondon recorded the final out in the eighth. Tommy Kahnle pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to record his fourth save of the season. Trenton has not allowed a run in the last 17 innings of the series.

Ramon Flores opened the eighth inning against lefty Phil McCormick (1-3) with a single to center, and McCormick then walked Jose Pirela and was lifted in favor of closer Daryl Maday. One out later, Maday walked JR Murphy to load the bases in the scoreless game.

With Heathcott batting on an 0-2 count, Maday uncorked a wild pitch to score Flores with the game’s first run. On the next pitch Heathcott lined his two-bagger into the right-centerfield gap plating both Pirela and Murphy.

Carlos Teller started for Richmond and tossed five scoreless frames, allowing only one hit and three walks. Casey Stevenson collected two of Trenton’s five hits, while no Flying Squirrels batter had more than one.

The third of the four-game series is scheduled to be played Wednesday night beginning at 6:35 pm. Right-hander Jose Ramirez (0-1, 1.50) expected to start for the Thunder while the Flying Squirrels counter with righty Fabio Castillo (2-2, 3.38) who is making a spot start. Radio coverage on 91.3 FM (WTSR) and also streaming online begins at 6:20 pm.

O’Brien Improves To 3-0 In Thunder Win

(PR) Richmond, VA) – Mikey O’Brien settled down after a tough opening frame and allowed only hit after the first of his seven innings to lead the Trenton Thunder to a 7-3 win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels in the opener of a four-game series Monday night at The Diamond. O’Brien (3-0) won for the third time in as many starts with the team in 2013 as the Thunder scored the final seven runs in the game unanswered.

Trenton’s offense snapped out of a recent funk by scoring seven runs on nine hits and nine Richmond walks. Slade Heathcott went 3-for-4 with three RBI to pace the surge, while JR Murphy reached base four times and scored three runs.

The first four Richmond batters reached against O’Brien on an infield hit to the mound, a walk, a bloop hit past second base and a bad-hop two run single by Mark Minicozzi. Ryan Lollis’ fielder’s choice grounder drove home the third Squirrels run giving the Trenton starter his first out of the night.

O’Brien would then settle in, lasting a team season-high seven innings and giving up a total of four hits, striking out four and walking three. Danny Burawa recorded the final four outs to close out the win.

After Trenton chased Richmond starter Omar Javier with a pair of two-out runs in the second, Heathcott’s RBI single in the third tied the game at 3 against reliever Jose Valdez (1-2). Murphy gave Trenton the lead with a two-out RBI single in the fourth.

Heathcott struck again in the sixth, this time grounding a two-out bases-loaded single off of reliever Tom Vessella that made the score 6-3. Five of Trenton’s seven runs in the game scored with two outs.

The second game of the series is scheduled to be played Tuesday night beginning at 6:35 pm. Left-hander Matt Tracy (4-3, 7.50) expected to start for the Thunder while the Flying Squirrels counter with lefty Carlos Teller (0-0, 0.00). Radio coverage on 91.3 FM (WTSR) and also streaming online begins at 6:20 pm.

Trenton Drops Series Finale

(PR) TRENTON, NJ – A bloop single down the left field line scored a run for Bowie in the 6th inning and doomed Trenton in a tightly-pitched 3-2 loss to the Bowie Baysox Sunday.

The Thunder trailed 2-0 in the 2nd inning after Zach Nuding allowed two singles and a double with the bases empty and two outs. Trenton responded by tying the game in the 4th inning with a pair of two-out runs of their own.

With Kyle Roller at second which reached with a walk and Slade Heathcott at first base who bunted for a base-hit, Ali Castillo stroked a single to center field to bring home Roller. Heathcott advanced to third base on the throw, but Castillo got hung up between first and second base in a rundown. While Castillo extended the rundown, Heathcott broke for the plate ahead of the throw from the first baseman Aaron Baker to score what would be the final run of the game for the Thunder.

Those two runs allowed Nuding off the hook, as he earned the no-decision after leaving with 105 pitches over five innings. He allowed two runs- both earned- on five hits and two walks while striking out five. His record remains at 1-5 with an ERA now at 3.28.

The Thunder hit the road for eight straight games- four at Richmond and four at Bowie- the first of which comes Monday at 6:35 p.m. The game features RHP Mikey O’Brien (2-0, 1.64) against RHP Omar Javier (3-0, 4.05) for Richmond. Radio coverage on 91.3 FM (WTSR) and also streaming online begins at 6:20 p.m.

Turley Tosses Six Strong In Thunder Win

(PR) TRENTON, NJ – The Thunder were able to strike for six runs off Bowie’s newly-minted knuckleball-tossing starting pitcher, Zach Clark in a 6-1 victory over the Bowie Baysox Saturday night.

On a night where the Thunder wore patriotic-themed jerseys at ARM & HAMMER Park, they saluted the troops in attendance by erasing a 1-0 deficit with two runs in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th innings. Second baseman Jose Pirela and right fielder Tyler Austin both reached base three times on the evening to pace the offense which scored six runs on just six hits.

Clad in a red, white and blue, Thunder starting pitcher Nik Turley allowed one run on one hit in six innings for his fourth win of the season. Turley, who championed a three-hit effort by the Thunder pitching staff in front of 6,359 fans, has now won four of his last five starts. In that time he has a 2.93 ERA with 30 K in 27.2 IP. The lone run in the game for Bowie was a solo homerun by Caleb Joseph in the 2nd inning. It was Joseph’s 8th homer of the season and his second in two games against the Thunder.

Francisco Rondon and Aaron Dott three scoreless innings out of the pen to preserve the lead and the victory which bumps Trenton’s record to 22-20 on the season.

The Thunder and Baysox complete their three-game series Sunday at 1:05 p.m. The game features RHP Zach Nuding (1-5, 3.24) against RHP Devin Jones (1-2, 5.34) for Bowie. Limited tickets are available through the Thunder box office at (609) 394-3300 or online at http://www.trentonthunder.com/tickets. Radio coverage on 91.3 FM (WTSR) and also streaming online begins at 12:45 p.m.

Game 41: Post-Game Notes

Kevin Gausman. He’s good. (Photo: Mike Ashmore)

As was the case when Jose Ramirez squared off with Binghamton’s Rafael Montero earlier this month, the focus was on the pitching matchup tonight, and Ramirez was involved once again.  Ramirez and Kevin Gausman made up both sides of the most recent installment of “best pitching matchup you’ll see all year,” and neither disappointed.

Ramirez: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 HR (79/52)

Gausman: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 K (90/60)

Gausman, the fourth overall pick in 2012, was particularly outstanding.  There was a lot to like about the 22-year-old righty; from the way he was able to reach back for a little extra on his fastball when he needed it (he sat at 95-96 MPH, but reached back for 98 on several strikeouts, and hit 99 on occasion) and made some serious adjustments the second time through the order, relying on his offspeed pitches a lot more.

“I felt good,” said Gausman after the game.

“I didn’t really mix in many sliders, probably because they have so many lefthanded hitters in their lineup.  My strength is fastball, changeup and going into the game, I knew I was going to throw a lot of changeups to their lefthanded hitters.  That was the pitch for me the entire night, and I threw it to their righthanded hitters too.  I think that was something they really weren’t expecting.  I had great fastball command too on both sides of the plate.  It was just one of those nights.”

The offense against each man is relatively easy to recap.  In the bottom of the second, Slade Heathcott laced a triple to left center off of Gausman, and scored one batter later when, after Ali Castillo hit a little chopper in front of the plate, Heathcott sprinted home after the throw went to first base.

Ramirez gave up a long solo home run to Caleb Joseph, brother of former Thunder infielder Corban Joseph, in the fourth inning.

That’s about it.

“He’s great.  Going into the game, I didn’t know anything about him,” said Gausman of Ramirez.  “This is my first year in pro ball, so all these guys that I face — they tell me I’m facing this and that, I didn’t really know anything about him.  But obviously, he’s got the velocity there.  He was throwing a lot of strikes and getting a lot of strikeouts with his changeup and slider.  It’s good when you have three pitches you can work in like that.”

The game was decided in the sixth inning, after Ramirez was out of the game.  With Danny Burawa pitching in relief, he induced a hard groundball to second baseman Casey Stevenson…Stevenson couldn’t make the play, a run scored and that was that.  Gausman pitched the sixth, got the win, and walked away with a lot of new admirers.  But even with that said, and with expectations that he could help the Orioles as early as later on this season, he realizes there’s still a lot to work on before he gets there.

“To be honest, I’m not really expecting anything too soon,” he said.  “I’m just trying to go out there and compete and win ballgames.  Coming into the game, I was 1-4.  To me, I had some good stats and stuff like that, but I never want to have a losing record…going forward, I always want to pitch well enough for my team to win.  I just want to try to have fun, and enjoy pitching in places I’ve never been before.”

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com