Balanced Offense Paces Thunder To 7-5 Win

The Thunder scored a single run in seven of their eight at-bats on their way to a 7-5 victory over Altoona on Tuesday night at ARM & HAMMER Park.

Gary Sanchez put the home team in front with a massive solo home run to left-center in the bottom of the first and Greg Bird led off the second inning with his first home run for the Thunder.

The Curve rallied for a pair of runs to tie the game in the third inning. Josh Bell and Stetson Allie each singled home a run against Jaron Long, however, the Thunder starter recovered to retire the side and hold the game at 2-2.
Sanchez again put the Thunder in front with a base hit to center field in the bottom of the third inning. A triple by Mason Williams and a sac fly by Sanchez gave the home team a 4-2 advantage in the fifth.

Dan Fiorito tripled in the sixth inning and Tyson Blaser drove him in with a ground ball past a drawn-in infield to make it 5-2.

Long retired ten straight batters after Allie’s run-scoring hit in the third to pick up his fifth victory in six appearances for the Thunder. The right-hander surrendered five hits, two walks, and struck out three.

The Curve scratched out a pair against reliever Phil Wetherell in the top of the seventh, however, Altoona ran into the final out of the inning when Drew Maggi attempted to score from third on a stolen base by Josh Bell.
With a slim 5-4 lead, the Thunder used an infield single by Jake Cave to begin the inning and Mason Williams bunted him into scoring position. Tyler Austin then tripled to right-center to score Cave. Thunder added an insurance run in the eighth when Cave drove in Jose Toussen to take the 7-5 lead.

James Pazos earned his fifth save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning. Every Thunder starter had a hit in the game.

The Thunder continue their six-game homestand with a 12:05 first pitch on Wednesday afternoon. The Thunder will start LHP Manny Banuelos (1-3, 4.37), LHP Zack Dodson (4-7, 5.12) will go for the Curve. Listen live to Thunder baseball on 91.3 WTSR and online at TrentonThunder.com beginning at 11:45 a.m.

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