Trenton vs. Reading, Game 62
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.