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Trenton Thunder Recover, Snap 2-Game Skid with Win vs. Keys

June 18, 2024

On the heels of dropping a back-to-back against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers over the weekend, the Trenton Thunder were back home at Trenton Thunder Ballpark to start a back-to-back against the Frederick Keys on Tuesday night, looking to rebound and climb their way up the MLB Draft League standings. To help them do so, the Thunder would call upon Nebraska right-hander Drew Christo to take the ball against North Carolina Asheville right-hander Justin Needles.

The Keys would strike first off of Christo, thanks in part to a pair of doubles off the bats of Justin Thomas and Tervell Johnson to take an early 1-0 advantage in the top half of the first before a groundout and double play stemmed the damage.

The Thunder would answer right back in the home half of the first as catcher Matt Quintanar singled home leadoff hitter Nathan Archer to tie up the game. They would proceed to load up the bases, but Ryan Picollo would strike out to end the threat.

The Keys would then get the lead right back in the top of the second as Bethune-Cookman product Irvin Escobar drove home Allan Gil-Fernandez with a sharp single to center field. However, the Thunder would tie up the score once again in the home third inning off a Tyler Chun double to right field that drove home Ryland Zaborowski.

Justin Needles would be chased from the game first after just three innings of work, allowing two runs (both earned) on four hits while issuing two free passes and no strikeouts to his credit. Christo went longer for the Trenton Thunder. Over five strong innings of work, he allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits, issued two walks, and punched out six.

The Trenton Thunder bullpen would hold strong from there as they would keep the Keys off the scoreboard the rest of the way, only allowing one hit while punching out three.

The Thunder would take the lead back in the home seventh inning after a pair of singles from Colton Becker and Ryland Zaborowski, a double steal one batter later, and a fielding error by the catcher that plated Becker to make it a 3-2 Thunder advantage. That would be the difference maker as the Thunder would tack on one more in the home 8th inning to make it a 4-2 game, and the bullpen would take it from there, allowing the Trenton Thunder to snap a two-game skid and pull to within one game of the Keys leading into the finale of the series and the homestand on Wednesday night.

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The Road Ahead

The Trenton Thunder will wrap up this short two-game series Wednesday night against these same Frederick Keys right back at Trenton Thunder Ballpark. First pitch is set for 7 PM. Afterward, they'll head to West Virginia for a four-game rematch of last year's Draft League Championship against the West Virginia Black Bears starting Thursday night.