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TRENTON, N.J. – The Eastern League Playoffs are just around the corner and barring one of the most unexpected finishes in professional baseball history, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Trenton Thunder began their playoff preview series on Friday night.
Trenton took the first round with a 3-1 win, climbing to 3.5 games of New Hampshire’s Eastern Division lead.
The Thunder, temporarily renamed the Pork Roll in honor of Pork Roll Night at ARM & HAMMER Park, quickly answered New Hampshire’s first inning run thanks to left fielder Trey Amburgey. On a 2-0 pitch, Amburgey sent a line drive to left field, bringing home Wendell Rijo and allowing Trenton even the contest.
New Hampshire Starting Pitcher Tyler Saucedo kept Trenton at bay until the fourth, when a pair of singles and an error put two men in scoring position. A wild pitch on the next at bat allowed Ryan Lidge to scamper home, giving the Pork Roll a lead they would not relinquish.
Jhalan Jackson added a solo shot for Trenton in the sixth, Rashad Crawford also added two hits for the hosts.
Cavan Biggio provided two hits for New Hampshire while Harold Ramirez and Andrew Guillotte each contributed a double.
Jonathan Loaisiga started the contest for Trenton in his first official start since June, leaving after four outs. The win would go to his long reliever, Jordan Foley. Now 3-4, Foley lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing just two hits and a walk to New Hampshire while striking out four.
Saucedo was the loser, falling to 3-3, scattering seven hits and four walks in six innings of work. Like Foley, Saucedo also struck out four batters.
Elsewhere in the Eastern League, third-place Reading fell 5-3 to Binghamton, Reading is currently seven games behind Trenton for the final playoff spot in the division. Both teams have 20 games left to play.
The series continues with a doubleheader on Saturday as New Hampshire sends Jon Harris and Josh DeGraaf in games one and two, respectively, while the Thunder send RHPs Brian Keller and Adonis Rosa to the mound.
