PORTLAND, ME - The Trenton Thunder defeated the Portland Sea Dogs on Sunday by a score of 9-7 after the offense exploded for fifteen hits, including five that went for extra bases.
Rob Segedin was Trenton’s most productive bat in the lineup on Sunday, ripping three hits, scoring once, and driving home three runs in five trips to the plate. One of those three hits was a third inning double that would build up a 4-0 lead. With the three hit game, Segedin ends the season-opening series with a .333 batting average.
Segedin led the Thunder in hits, but was far from the only productive hitter. Neil Medchill continued his early season hot streak with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate that included a double and two runs scored, while cleanup hitter J.R. Murphy went 2-for-4 with a run and a double. Trenton’s trio of outfield prospects – Slade Heathcott, Ramon Flores, and Tyler Austin – combined to go 6-for-16 on the day while scoring five times and ripping two doubles. Flores also drove in a pair of runs.
Francisco Rondon, making his first start since 2009, earned the win after giving Trenton five solid innings on the mound. He allowed four hits on the day, and three runs, each of which came on a solo home run. The bright note for Rondon is that he struck out six batters and threw just over two-thirds of his pitches for strikes.
Danny Burawa and Tommy Kahnle allowed Portland to get back into the game, giving up two hits apiece, but Trenton got the ball to closer Branden Pinder with the score 9-7. Pinder surrendered a leadoff single and a walk, but managed to get cleanup hitter Tony Thomas to pop out in foul territory to end the game and record his first save of the 2013 season.
Trenton now heads to Manchester, New Hampshire, where they will begin a three-game series with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Monday. LHP Matt Tracy will be making his Eastern League debut on the mound for the Thunder, with RHP Ryan Tepera on the mound for the Fisher Cats. First pitch is slated for 6:35 PM.
Follow Dan on Twitter at @danpfeiffer74 for all the latest on the Trenton Thunder.
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