Fisher Cats Strike Early in 5-2 Win over Thunder

The Trenton Thunder fell to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Sunday afternoon, 5-2, in a game where they brought the tying run to the plate in the 7th and 8th innings, but were held at-bay by the Fisher Cats.

Kyle Haynes started the game for the Thunder and allowed a run in the 1st inning when Ryan Schimpf hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly with one out. Haynes escaped further damage in the first and did not get touched again until a three-run, two-out rally in the 5th. After retiring the first two batters, the next three reached- with a run coming home on a wild pitch- before K.C. Hobson doubled over the head of right fielder Mark Payton to bring home a pair of runs and give New Hampshire a 4-0 lead. New Hampshire added a run the very next inning off the Thunder bullpen to stake themselves to a 5-0 lead before the Thunder offense got going.

New Hampshire, who entered the game with 14.1 consecutive scoreless innings, rattled off six more scoreless innings before the Thunder put runs on the board in the 7th and 8th innings. In each inning, however, the Thunder brought the tying run to the plate but could not covert for multiple runs.

The Thunder used strong offensive performances from Greg Bird (1-for-2, 2 BB) and Francisco Arcia (2-for-3, HBP) who each reached base three times, but the effort fell short on a day where New Hampshire neutralized the Thunder bats to just six hits.

The Thunder and Fisher Cats continue their three-game series Monday with a scheduled 7:00 p.m. first pitch at ARM & HAMMER Park. The Thunder send RHP Eric Ruth (5-1, 2.03) to the mound against RHP Taylor Cole (2-7, 5.15). Pre-game coverage begins at 6:40 p.m. on 91.3 FM and www.trentonthunder.com.