Shaeffer Silences Seawolves

(PR) (Trenton, NJ) – Shaeffer Hall hurled eight dominant innings, giving up just two runs along the way, to lead the Trenton Thunder (51-45) to a 9-2 win over the Erie SeaWolves (46-50) on Tuesday night at Waterfront Park. In game two of the three-game set, the Thunder scored three runs in three separate innings to coast to the victory. Rob Lyerly, Zoilo Almonte and Melky Mesa each had three hits for Trenton, who win for just the fourth time in 17 games in the month of July.

The first three-run frame for the Thunder offense occurred in the bottom of the second. Entering the inning trailing 1-0, Rob Lyerly led the inning off with a double to deep left-centerfield. After a Melky Mesa single put runners at second and third, Zoilo Almonte lined a single to left field to tie the score 1-1. Jose Pirela then brought home Mesa on a sacrifice fly to give Trenton a 2-1 lead. Two batters later, Addison Maruszak drove a single to left to score Almonte, and the Thunder led 3-1.

With a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh, Trenton was in desperate need of a couple of insurance runs. The Thunder would accomplish that very thing as Corban Joseph drew a two-out walk to begin the rally. After an Austin Romine single put runners at first and third, Rob Lyerly began a stretch of three straight RBI-singles for the Thunder. Lyerly’s single was followed by ones from Melky Mesa and Zoilo Almonte. All with two outs, the Thunder erupted for three important insurance runs to take a 6-2 lead.

As impressive as the Trenton offense was on Tuesday night, starting pitcher Shaeffer Hall was better. The lefty lasted eight innings, the longest outing for a Thunder starting pitcher in 2011, and surrendered just two runs on five hits. The eight full innings also tie a career high for Hall, who last accomplished the feat last season on May 25 in Greenville while pitching for Class A Charleston. The eight wins for Hall now give him the team lead. Entering Tuesday’s start, Hall was tied with Craig Heyer for the team lead with seven wins on the year.

The Thunder will conclude their three-game series with Erie and their seven-game homestand on Wednesday at 12:05 PM at Waterfront Park. Trenton will turn to RHP Cory Arbiso (4-4, 5.27) to make a spot-start for the team. Erie will counter with LHP Ramon Garcia (3-3, 4.71). The SBLI Pre-Game show with Jay Burnham and Hank Fuerst begins at 11:45 AM. Tune-in to the game on 91.3 WTSR and trentonthunder.com.

Wednesday’s homestand finale is another Wawa Wednesday and a Camp Day at the ballpark. For ticket information, call the Thunder Ticket Office at 609-394-3300 or log on to trentonthunder.com.