Trenton Brings the Thunder, Dogs Fall 10-1

TRENTON, NJ - The Trenton Thunder (3-2) plated four in the first and the Portland Sea Dogs (3-2) couldn't bounce back falling 10-1 Tuesday night at Arm & Hammer Park in Trenton, NJ. The loss marks the third in a row for Portland.

Mike McCarthy took the hill for the Sea Dogs and was greeted by a bevy of hot Thunder bats. The righty gave up a leadoff double to Mason Williams and a one out single to Ben Gamel before the floodgates opened.

The cleanup hitter Gary Sanchez followed Gamel with a single to center that plated Williams and gave Trenton the 1-0 lead. After a sacrifice fly off the bat of Tyler Austin, a two-run shot was cranked to left and doubled the Thunder lead to 4-0 after the first inning.

McCarthy (0-1) labored again in the second as Trenton increased the lead to 6-0. Rob Segedin knocked in a run with a single and Sanchez again followed with an RBI base hit, his second in as many innings.

Portland's starter gave up a single run in the third, and completed the first four frames before he was lifted. McCarthy allowed seven runs, all earned, on 11 hits; he did not walk a batter and struck out four.

Nate Reed was the first out of the Portland bullpen, but he could not stem and was roughed up for three runs in his two innings of work.

Matt Tracy was on the other side of the bump for the home team and held the Sea Dogs scoreless through the first five innings. The southpaw starter gave up two base runners in each of the first two innings, but weaved in and out of trouble and did not allow a run to score.

Tracy (1-0) faltered in the sixth inning as Portland manufactured a run with one down. Carlos Rivero began the rally with a walk and was moved to second on a single by Henry Ramos. Blake Swihart followed with an RBI single that cut the deficit to 8-1 and ended Tracy's night on the mound.

The trio of Branden Pinder, Cole Kimball, and Jairo Heredia silenced the Sea Dogs' bats the rest of the night in relief and retired the final 11 hitters in a row.

Noe Ramirez and Miguel Celestino each pitched an inning of relief in scoreless fashion to close out the night for Portland.

The Sea Dogs and Thunder get set to wrap up their brief, two-game set, Wednesday night at 7:05 PM from Arm & Hammer Park. The Sea Dogs will send lefty Henry Owens (1-0, 0.00) to the mound against Trenton's RHP Bryan Mitchell (0-1, 9.00). Radio coverage begins at 6:45 PM on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network and www.seadogs.com. Coverage on MiLB.TV kicks-off at 7:00 PM.

The Sea Dogs home opener is set for Thursday, April 10th at 6:00 PM at Hadlock Field against the New Britain Rock Cats. Tickets for Opening Day and all 2014 Sea Dogs home games are available and can be ordered by calling the Sea Dogs ticket office at 207-879-9500 or order online at www.seadogs.com.