TRENTON, NJ – After Tuesday’s thrilling comeback win, the Trenton Thunder were unable to complete a series sweep– falling Wednesday afternoon to the Akron RubberDucks 5-3.
In place of scheduled starting pitcher Caleb Smith who was transferred to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Matt Wotherspoon was summoned from Single-A Charleston prior to the ballgame and lasted five innings. He allowed five runs on six hits and struck out two. The first two Double-A appearances were out of the bullpen in May, but Wednesday marked his first start with the Thunder.
The Thunder outhit the RubberDucks 10-9 in the loss which included a pair of home runs. Tyler Wade launched a leadoff home run in the 3rd inning after the Thunder fell behind 2-0, to cut the deficit in half. The homer marked his first in Double-A and came in his 61st Thunder at-bat. Three innings later, Rob Segdin delivered a solo home run for a homer in consecutive days. In the first 60 home games of the season, Trenton had not recorded a multi-homer game at ARM & HAMMER Park, but launched two homers both Tuesday and Wednesday.
Wade was one of three Thunder batters with a multi-hit game, including Tyler Austin and Jake Cave. In his Double-A debut, catcher Kevin Alexander singled in his third at-bat to finish 1-for-3.
The Thunder trailed by two runs heading into the bottom of the 9th inning and brought the tying run to the plate in the form of Francisco Arcia- who was pinch hitting for Alexander- but he flew out harmlessly to right field to end the ballgame.
The Thunder entered the ballgame 2.0 games behind the Binghamton Mets for the second spot in the East Division playoff race, but falls to 2.5 games behind the B-Mets with the loss. At the time Wednesday’s Thunder game was completed, Binghamton and Erie had not begun their game scheduled for a 6:35 p.m. first pitch.
Trenton piles on the bus Thursday morning to begin their final road series of the season. The first of four game against the Altoona Curve (Double-A, Pittsburgh Pirates) in Curve, PA begins at 7:00 p.m. Thursday night. Pre-game coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on 91.3 FM WTSR or online at www.trentonthunder.com.
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