Game 138: Trenton @ New Britain

Game 138 – Trenton Thunder @ New Britain Rock Cats
September 4, 2009
New Britain Stadium – New Britain, CT

Pitching Matchup: TRE Jeremy Bleich vs. NB Deolis Guerra

Starting Lineups:

THUNDER

Austin Krum, CF
Matt Cusick, 2B
Eduardo Nunez, SS
Chris Malec, 1B
Richie Robnett, DH
Edwar Gonzalez, RF
P.J. Pilittere, C
Marcos Vechionacci, 3B
James Cooper, LF

Jeremy Bleich, P

ROCK CATS

Brian Dinkelman, LF
Ramon Santana, 3B
Luke Hughes, DH
Wilson Ramos, C
Juan Portes, RF
Steve Singleton, SS
Alejandro Machado, 2B
Whit Robbins, 1B
Yancarlos Ortiz, CF

Deolis Guerra, P

Radio Links: Click here for the links to each team’s broadcast.

Live Box Score: The MILB.com direct link is here.

Around the Eastern League: For scores from around the EL, go here.

In-Game Updates (LIVE from the ballpark): We’re underway here at New Britain Stadium at around 6:40 PM.  The fans are still setlling in their seats, but it’s a nice day…about 70 degrees out, and there are about two thirds of seats filled with people.  It’s a nice night for baseball, and a huge game for both teams.  If you ask me, Trenton needs to win this game…without question.

The internet is spotty here, so if updates are sparce, know that’s the reason…

1-2-3 inning for Guerra…0-0, B1.

Leadoff single to left for Brian Dinkelman, B1…

Ramon Santana, called up from Low-A, drives in a run in his first at-bat.  Dinkelman advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored when Santana hit a soft single up the middle…he stopped at third, but when Krum bobbled the ball, he ran home and scored without a throw.  Error on Krum, 1-0 Rock Cats, B1, 0 outs.

Getting away from the Thunder very quickly here.  2-0, Rock Cats, B1, no outs…Bleich has allowed four hits already.  Wilson Ramos just hit a soft single through the left side that scored Santana.  Tommy Phelps out to visit him.

Bleich has yet to record an out five batters into the game, Portes walks…bases are loaded for Steve Singleton.  B1.  2-0.  NB.

Four pitch walk to Singleton.  Run scores.  3-0.  No outs.  B1.  NB leading.  Honestly, you have to consider getting Bleich out of there at this point…with all due respect to Bleich, who is a good guy and is better than he’s shown, you can’t leave him out there with this much on the line.

Alejandro Machado, the seventh batter of the game and inning, laces a hard single to left.  4-0.  Rock Cats.  B1.  This one’s essentially over.  The next eight innings are for show.

Whit Robbins strikes out looking on a generous call from the home plate umpire on the outside corner.  Bleich got pinched a few times, but nothing particularly egregious…

Yancarlos Ortiz grounds into a 3-2 FC…bases still loaded, two outs.  Brian Dinkelman, you may remember him from his at-bat earlier this inning, is up.

Dinkelman strikes out looking.  46 pitch first inning for Bleich.  It lasted 27 minutes.  Rock Cats up, 4-0, heading into T2.

Malec reached on an E-4, got wiped out on a 4-6-3 DP by Robnett and Gonzalez popped out.  4-0, NB, heading into B2.  It’s absolutely freaking amazing that one inning can wipe out four days worth of anticipated enthusiasm.

1-2-3 frame for Bleich in the 2nd.  A little late for that…

Bleich video

Was on the radio with Steve Rudenstein for two innings, putting on a clinic as to why I don’t do radio.  Bleich lasted three innings, ended up giving up six runs.  Marcos Vechionacci with three rough plays — two on the basepaths and one in the field — not exactly helping his cause.  Phil Bartleski then came in, and gave up another run in one spotty inning of work…Thunder trail 7-0, T5.  Richie Robnett breaks up the no-hitter to lead off the 5th, by the way.

Trenton showing a pulse…Edwar Gonzalez drives in Robnett.  7-1, Rock Cats, T5.

Aaaaaaaaand they flatline.  They had runners on second and third with one out and come up empty.  7-1, T6.

OH. MY. GOD. TIE GAME. 7-7. BOTTOM 7TH. Trenton with a six run seventh inning…genius move by Tony Franklin delivers the big blow. With the bases loaded, Franklin takes out James Cooper and pinch hits Noah Hall, who delivers with a bases clearing triple. Unbelievable. An error at second by Alejandro Machado allows the tying run to score. IT’S A FREAKING TIE GAME, PEOPLE. MY GOODNESS. DOWN 7-0 AND THEY’RE TIED. I admit I counted this team out, and who wouldn’t have…but this is incredible.

Wilkins Arias in to pitch the seventh for Trenton…Jeremy Bleich is amazingly off the hook.

Sorry about the updates, the internet in here has been rough. Both teams off the board in the 8th, we head to the 9th tied at 7-7.

Walk-off win off of Tex. 8-7, Rock Cats win. 9th. Ouch.

In-Game Photos:

Man playing accordion.  Really.

In the Rock Cats press box…because it takes a special kind of arrogance to post your own picture on your own blog thread.

Ryan Baker

Jeremy Bleich in a stereotypical minor league shot…

Bleich

A look at the concourse…

Matt Cusick

Tony Franklin

The Rock Cats gift shop

Noah Hall

Austin Krum

Alejandro Machado

Chris Malec

New Britain Stadium…

Eduardo Nunez

Artsy-fartsyness

Marcos Vechionacci

Phil Bartleski

In-Game YouTube Videos: Check out my YouTube account for videos updated throughout the game…

Final Score: 8-7, Rock Cats

Thunder Thoughts: 2 Gb with 3 to play. One more loss and it’s over.