Trenton 10 - Binghamton 2

Press Release:

TRENTON, NJ – In the first meeting of the Sandwich Showdown, the Thunder Pork Roll blasted five home runs, part of a 17-hit attack, and defeated the Binghamton Spiedies, 10-2, on Friday night at ARM & HAMMER Park in Trenton, NJ. With the game tied at two as late as the sixth inning, Trenton scored eight unanswered runs to claim the opener.

Yoenis Céspedes, playing with Binghamton on a Minor League rehab assignment, went hitless in two plate appearances in his first game. The New York Mets outfielder flied out to left field in the first and grounded out to short in the fourth. He was removed for a pinch-hitter, according to plan, in the sixth.

The Thunder started the home run push in unconventional fashion in the first inning against Binghamton starter Marcos Molina. With two outs, Abiatal Avelino laced a sinking liner to left-center. John Mora, sprinting in from center, lunged for the drive, but failed to get a piece. The ball bounced to the wall and Avelino sped around the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

Trenton added to their lead with a more traditional trip around the bases in the fifth inning. With two outs, Trenton first baseman Billy Fleming deposited Molina’s 1-0 pitch beyond the left-field wall. Fleming’s third home run of the season doubled Trenton’s lead.

The Spiedies were kept in check for five innings by Trenton starter Brian Keller through five innings before finally breaking through in the sixth. With two aboard, Peter Alonso stroked a two-out single to left-center, plating Tim Tebow and Levi Michael to tie the game.

Binghamton’s momentum did not last long. Trenton outfielder Jhalan Jackson led off the bottom of the inning with a towering homer to left, putting the Pork Roll on top for good. Gosuke Katoh added another solo shot in the seventh against reliever Adonis Uceta.

Trenton kicked the game into blowout territory in the eighth, plating six runs on seven hits against Uceata and Austin McGeorge.

Molina (1-6) was tagged for three runs on nine hits over six innings. He struck out eight and walked two.

POSTGAME NOTES: The five home runs allowed by Binghamton were a season-high…Tim Tebow went 1-for-3 with a double…three of Trenton’s home runs came with two outs