Thunder Bats Silenced in 9-2 Loss

TRENTON, NJ - Sea Dogs left-hander Henry Owens struck out nine over six and two third innings of shutout baseball as Portland defeated Trenton 9-2 on Wednesday night at ARM & HAMMER Park.

Owens allowed just six hits and did not walk a batter in a start for the first time in his double-A career.

Portland grabbed an early lead against Bryan Mitchell in the top of the first loading the bases with two outs. Travis Shaw touched home after a wild pitch from Mitchell. The Sea Dogs the Trenton starter from the game in the fifth inning with four straight hits to begin the inning. Back-to-back run scoring hits from Deven Marrero and Shaw took a 4-0 advantage for Portland.

Mitchell suffered his second loss of the season; surrendering four runs on six hits and four walks in four innings of work.

The Sea Dogs added five runs in their half of the seventh, in part due to a pair of Thunder errors committed in the inning. Shannon Wilkerson led the way with three hits for the visitors.

Gary Sanchez accounted for the only offense for the Thunder with a two-run double in the eighth inning. Sanchez finished the season's opening home stand (six games) batting 8-for-22 (.363) with four doubles, a home run and the Eastern League lead with ten runs driven in.

The Thunder will begin their first road trip of the season with a four game series in Erie beginning tomorrow night. The Thunder send LHP Jeremy Bleich (0-1, 11.25) to the mound, the SeaWolves will counter with RHP Keith Couch (1-0, 0.00). First pitch will be thrown at 6:35, listen live on 91.3 WTSR and TrentonThunder.com.