Trenton vs. Reading, Game 62

Pregame Notes: Not much to report other than pitching coach being back after leaving to watch his daughter graduate high school. He joins Nardi Contreras today in watching over the pitchers.

First inning:

Economical first inning for Eric Hacker, who threw just six pitches in retiring the side 1-2-3. This is Hacker's third start with Thunder, and he's still looking for his first victory.

Thunder open with a double from Ramiro Pena down the left-field line. Jackson does a good job working R-Phils starter Kip Bouknight for an eight-pitch walk. Curtis follows by striking out on a pitch at his feet. Gonzalez kills the rally with a 5-4-3 double play.

After one, 0-0.

Second inning:

Hacker gets the first man, Jeremy Slayden, on a one-hopper to third. Bad job by Hacker: it took him four pitches to get Joey Hammond on a grounder to second. Hacker finishes the job by getting Brad Harman to stare at a fastball down the pipe for strike three.

Ehlers starts the Thunder with a groundout to third, and is followed by Tabata, who slaps a 1-1 pitch to right for a single. The mini-rally is ended quickly though, as Malec bounces into a 4-6-3 double play.

After two, 0-0.

Third inning:

Strikes strikes and more strikes for Hacker so far. He's retired the first two men on a checked-swing strikeout and an easy grounder to shortstop Ramiro Pena. Hacker ends it with another checked-swing K. So far: Three innings, 26 pitches. Of those pitches, just six were balls.
Thunder get a two-out walk from Ramiro Pena, which Jackson follows with a single into left-center. Once again, though, the Thunder cannot capitalize as Colin Curtis lines the second pitch into the waiting glove of center fielder Greg Golson.

After three, 0-0.

Fourth inning:

Hacker blinks first, allowing a long solo home run to shortstop Jason Donald and a pair of singles to Slayden and Hammond after that. He recovers though, fanning Harman on a breaking ball.

Ehlers tucks a one-out single under the shortstop's glove, but is stranded there.

After four, 1-0, R-Phils.

Fifth inning:

Not as effecient, but just as effective. Hacker worked around two walks to keep the R-Phils off the board.

Once again, the Thunder go quietly. Three groundouts this time, sandwiched around a walk by Pena.

Trenton vs. Reading, Game 62

Pregame Notes: Not much to report other than pitching coach being back after leaving to watch his daughter graduate high school. He joins Nardi Contreras today in watching over the pitchers.

First inning:

Economical first inning for Eric Hacker, who threw just six pitches in retiring the side 1-2-3. This is Hacker's third start with Thunder, and he's still looking for his first victory.

Thunder open with a double from Ramiro Pena down the left-field line. Jackson does a good job working R-Phils starter Kip Bouknight for an eight-pitch walk. Curtis follows by striking out on a pitch at his feet. Gonzalez kills the rally with a 5-4-3 double play.

After one, 0-0.

Second inning:

Hacker gets the first man, Jeremy Slayden, on a one-hopper to third. Bad job by Hacker: it took him four pitches to get Joey Hammond on a grounder to second. Hacker finishes the job by getting Brad Harman to stare at a fastball down the pipe for strike three.

Ehlers starts the Thunder with a groundout to third, and is followed by Tabata, who slaps a 1-1 pitch to right for a single. The mini-rally is ended quickly though, as Malec bounces into a 4-6-3 double play.

After two, 0-0.

Third inning:

Strikes strikes and more strikes for Hacker so far. He's retired the first two men on a checked-swing strikeout and an easy grounder to shortstop Ramiro Pena. Hacker ends it with another checked-swing K. So far: Three innings, 26 pitches. Of those pitches, just six were balls.
Thunder get a two-out walk from Ramiro Pena, which Jackson follows with a single into left-center. Once again, though, the Thunder cannot capitalize as Colin Curtis lines the second pitch into the waiting glove of center fielder Greg Golson.

After three, 0-0.

Fourth inning:

Hacker blinks first, allowing a long solo home run to shortstop Jason Donald and a pair of singles to Slayden and Hammond after that. He recovers though, fanning Harman on a breaking ball.

Ehlers tucks a one-out single under the shortstop's glove, but is stranded there.

After four, 1-0, R-Phils.

Fifth inning:

Not as effecient, but just as effective. Hacker worked around two walks to keep the R-Phils off the board.

Once again, the Thunder go quietly. Three groundouts this time, sandwiched around a walk by Pena.