9th Inning Run Costs Thunder, 2-1
TRENTON, NJ - A run in the top of the 9th for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats broke a 1-1 tie and sent New Hampshire to the 2-1 win in front of 3,412 fans at ARM & HAMMER Park.
The Thunder threw out three runners at the plate in the game, but it was a slide by Fisher Cats first baseman Clint Robinson that knocked a ball out of the glove of catcher J.R. Murphy and gave New Hampshire the victory. Shortstop Kevin Nolan singled to left field with runners on first and second base. Robinson rounded third as the ball was scooped up by left fielder Ramon Flores. Flores' throw was slightly wide of the plate, but Murphy snagged it up cleanly on a hop, but couldn't maintain control as Robinson arrived at the plate.
The Thunder went quietly against Joel Carrena who struck out one of the three batters he faced in the 9th en route to his second save of the season.
The game marked the first time that Reegie Corona appeared in a minor league game since July 30, 2010 for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Corona, who appeared in 249 games for the Thunder from 2007-2009, started at second base and went 1-for-4 with a double in the 4th inning.
Jose Ramirez, ranked as the No. 16 prospect in the New York Yankees system according to Baseball America, made his first start of the 2013 season and his first career Double-A start. Though he did not earn a victory, he allowed one run on one hit while striking out six over five innings Wednesday night. In his two appearances for the Thunder, Ramirez has allowed one earned run in 9.0 IP with 12 Ks.
The Thunder and New Hampshire Fisher Cats conclude their four-game series Wednesday at 10:35 a.m. The game features LHP Nik Turley (2-1, 5.79) for Trenton against RHP Deck McGuire (1-2, 5.88) for the Fisher Cats. Limited tickets are available through the Thunder box office at (609) 394-3300 or online at www.trentonthunder.com/tickets. Radio coverage on 91.3 FM (WTSR) and also streaming online begins at 10:15 a.m.