Fiorito Helps Thunder Steal a Ballgame

TRENTON, NJ – Trailing 4-1 entering the bottom of the ninth, Dan Fiorito completed a 5-4 comeback win for the Thunder with a three-run homer off Harrisburg closer Hector Ambriz.

Eric Jagielo led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk and Dante Bichette Jr. and Jose Rosario both singled to load the bases with one out. After Francisco Arcia brought home Jagielo with a groundout, Fiorito pounded the first offering off Ambriz over the wall in left-center to give the Thunder their fifth straight victory.

The 5,483 fans at ARM & HAMMER Park were treated to a pitcher’s duel prior to a one hour, 35 minute rain delay as MLB rehabber Casey Janssen tossed a scoreless top of the first inning and Thunder starter Brady Lail fired five shutout innings before the Thunder offense broke through in their half of the fifth.

With Austin Voth on the mound, Mason Williams doubled to begin the inning on a ball that kicked off the first base bag and into the seating bowl. After Francisco Arcia grounded out to move Williams to third, Fiorito (2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI) hit a ground ball back toward the middle and Harrisburg SS Wilmer Difo slipped in his attempt to throw to first and Williams scored to take a 1-0 lead.

Just moments after Fiorito’s run-scoring single the rain chased the teams from the field for the lengthy delay.

Harrisburg grabbed the lead in the top of the sixth inning when 1B Kevin Keyes hit a grand slam home run off Matt Wotherspoon. Wotherspoon, who was called up to the Thunder earlier in the afternoon, was in line for the defeat in his Double-A debut prior to Fiorito’s heroics.

The walk-off homer gave the Thunder their fifth straight victory and their fifth in their final at-bat of the season.

The Thunder will look to add to finish off the sweep of their four-game series with the Senators on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 pm.

The Thunder will start RHP Luis Niebla (NR), who was 0-0, 0.53 in 17 innings at Class-A Tampa, and the Senators will counter with LHP Richard Bleier (1-0, 4.20). After the game, Kids Run the Bases, presented by TD Bank. Tickets can be ordered online at Trentonthunder.com/tickets.