ALTOONA, PA --- The Thunder secured a 4-3 comeback win over the Altoona Curve on Monday night thanks to a strong defensive effort at Peoples Natural Gas Field. After Mandy Alvarez put the Thunder ahead with a two-run double in the seventh inning, the Thunder needed their gloves on three occasions
ALTOONA, PA --- The Thunder secured a 4-3 comeback win over the Altoona Curve on Monday night thanks to a strong defensive effort at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
After Mandy Alvarez put the Thunder ahead with a two-run double in the seventh inning, the Thunder needed their gloves on three occasions late in the game to secure the win.
Andrew Bellati walked the first two men he faced in the seventh inning to put a pair aboard in a one-run game. Chris Sharpe then stepped to the plate and attempted to bunt the runners to second and third. Sharpe's bunt was popped up in front of the plate and catcher Kellin Deglan caught it then fired it down to second to double off Gift Ngope and tag out Mitchell Tolman who both seemed to think the ball hadn't been caught.
It was the first triple play turned by the Thunder since September 5, 2011 when pitcher spun an around the horn triple play groundout.
In the eighth inning, with right-hander Brady Lail on the mound and the tying run on second, Robbie Glandinning lined a shot to right-center and Rashad Crawford made a full extension diving catch for the final out of the inning.
Isiah Gilliam turned in another highlight reel play in the ninth inning when he made a diving catch on a liner to right-center off the bat of Jerrick Suiter to start the inning.
Lail would finish the ninth with a pair of strikeouts to record his first save of the season and third overall in his career.
Nick Nelson struck out nine in his five inning start on Monday night. Nelson allowed a pair of runs in the fourth and a single run in the fifth to allow the Curve to take a 3-2 advantage. The nine strikeouts are the second-highest total of the season in a start for Nelson following an 11 strikeout performance on July 2 at Portland.
Hoy Jun Park matched his career-high with three walks in the victory, the third time he has done so in his career.
Your Thunder continue their road trip on Tuesday night at 6:30pm against the Curve. RHP Albert Abreu (4-7, 3.82) will start for the Thunder, LHP Sean Brady (3-6, 3.57) will go for Altoona. Pre-game coverage begins at 6:15pm on 920 AM The Jersey and online www.TrentonThunder.com/Broadcast.
