AKRON, OHIO- With the Thunder back in the Eastern League Championship Series for the first time in three years, they wanted to get off to a quick start against their hosts, the Akron RubberDucks. Trenton did just that, scoring twice in the top of the first, but it was not long into the hosts were right back in the...
AKRON, OHIO- With the Thunder back in the Eastern League Championship Series for the first time in three years, they wanted to get off to a quick start against their hosts, the Akron RubberDucks.
Trenton did just that, scoring twice in the top of the first, but it was not long into the hosts were right back in the game.
But the big blow on the night came in the Akron fifth inning, as DH Eric Haase sent the second pitch from Thunder reliever Travis Hissong over the left field fence for a grand slam, to power the RubberDucks to a 6-3 win in the first game of the best-of-five series.
Thunder advance to EL Championship Series for first time since 2013
Trenton starter Ronald Herrera had loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth, with Trenton holding onto a 3-2 lead. But catcher Yan Gomes (2-for-4, RBI, run), who is rehabbing from a separated shoulder he suffered with the Cleveland Indians in July, led off the frame by doubling down the left field line. After Herrera struck out Jordan Smith, the righty got a ground ball out of Nellie Rodriguez, but it just got past a diving Miguel Andujar at third base, to set up the hosts with first and third.
Once Herrera walked Mike Papi, it was the end of the night, and just two pitches later, the Thunder found themselves behind by three runs with one swing of the bat.
"We were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position," Thunder manager Bobby Mitchell said. "Our pitching is not going to hold up every game. Travis Hissong came in and made one mistake, and they made him pay."
Trenton took an early lead in the first, and looked like it would get to RubberDucks starter Michael Peoples. Tyler Wade lined a single up the middle, but was picked off immediately by Peoples. Dustin Fowler followed with a single, and two batters later, Mike Ford pulled a ball down the right field line over the fence, to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.
"I thought it was a great start for us," Mitchell said. "But we have a tendency to shut down offensively, and we can't do that. I thought we let them off the hook. We weren't aggressive on the bases. That is not the way we play. Our aggressiveness sets the tone.
I thought we were a little flat. We had some situations early where we could have stolen a bag but didn't. Now tomorrow, we go against a lefty, and might not get the same opportunities. We need to score some runs."
Akron tied it in the bottom of the third against Herrera, when they strung three singles together to score twice. The Thunder struck right back in the next frame when Mark Payton and Billy McKinney doubled, and gave the Trenton the lead for an inning.
The game one loss puts the pressure on the Thunder, as shown in the last series. Against Reading, Trenton took a 2-0 lead at home, and went on the road needing just one win out of three to advance to the championship. Now, the Thunder hope they can win game two, and come home to a best-of-three at ARM & HAMMER Park, where they have been so dominant all season.
"It is a huge game tomorrow," Mitchell said. "If we go down 2-0, it will be tough. We will take it one game at a time, but we have to score some runs. Try to get up early, and let the bullpen take over the game. Tonight, I was a little disappointed, in the loss obviously but the way we played. That is not us."
Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean