With two outs and no one on in the 12th, the inning was extended by Yeral Sanchez’ double over the head of left fielder Mike Kvasnicka. Fiorito laced a line drive to left field that quickly got to the wall and banged off a billboard above the left field wall just to the right of the 330-foot mark.
The Wednesday afternoon win came before 6,558 at New Britain Stadium and snapped the Thunder’s season-long three-game losing streak.
The Thunder were two outs away from winning the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, but Tony Thomas singled home Matt Koch on an RBI single to center field to force extra innings. Branden Pinder, who struck out three while allowing one run on one hit in two innings or relief, blew his first save of the season and allowed his first run of the season in 15.0 IP.
Second baseman Robert Refsnyder’s two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning turned a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 lead. Refsnyder’s third home run of the season clanked off the scoreboard over the left field wall and scored Kyle Roller who had singled one batter prior. Roller’s Eastern League-leading ninth homer of the season in the fifth inning tied the game 2-2 after Trenton fell behind 2-0.
Jeremy Bleich allowed three earned runs over six innings. The Thunder trailed 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning after Rock Cats’ second baseman Tony Thomas hit a home run to center field. Trenton tied the game in the fifth when designated hitter Kyle Roller hit his ninth home run of the season, a two-run shot to right field off New Britain starting pitcher Tyler Duffey. Duffey, who retired the first 12 batters of the game, gave up four runs on four hits in seven innings pitched.
With the win, Trenton is now 1-2 in extra-inning games this season.
The Thunder return home for a seven-game homestand starting Thursday with the first four games against the Reading Fightin Phils. Limited tickets are available by calling (609)394-3300 or by going to www.trentonthunder.com/tickets.
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