New Britain Rock Cats Silence Trenton Thunder 7-4 in 12th - AA, Eastern League

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - (Trenton, NJ) - New Britain CF Brandon Roberts had the go-ahead RBI single in the top of the 12th inning and the Rock Cats would go on for a 7-4 win over the Thunder on Saturday afternoon at Waterfront Park. New Britain pounded out 17 hits, the most given up in one game by the Thunder pitching staff this season.

With the score tied 4-4 in the 12th inning, New Britain SS Trevor Plouffe singled to lead off the inning against Thunder reliever Michael Gardner (2-2). After a strikeout and a walk, Roberts singled to right field to bring home Plouffe with the go-ahead run. Later in the inning, 2B Steve Tolleson connected on a two-run single to extend the lead to 7-4. New Britain (10-11) is now 2-4 against the Thunder this season.

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Down 4-3 in the bottom of the 10th inning, Trenton (14-10) rallied with two outs off of New Britain RHP Zach Ward to tie the game. Down to their final out, the Thunder loaded the bases on a walk by DH Kevin Russo, a single by LF Matt Carson, and an HBP to C P.J. Pilittere. Ward was pulled by the Rock Cats in favor of RHP Danny Graves. 3B Carlos Mendoza coaxed a walk off of Graves to tie the game. Trenton left the bases loaded in the 9th and 10th innings with chances to win the game.  Graves (1-0), the former major league veteran, would go on to pitch a scoreless 11th inning to earn the win for New Britain.

Trenton took a 3-1 lead off of New Britain starting pitcher Anthony Swarzak in the 1st inning.  All three runs came with two outs.  LF Matt Carson had an RBI single, and 1B Cody Ehlers hit a two-run home run.  The Rock Cats would tie the game at 3-3 in the 3rd inning with two runs off of Thunder starting pitcher Phil Coke.  Swarzak went 6 IP and gave up 6 H and 3 ER in a no-decision.  Coke also received a no-decision.  He went 6 IP and gave up a season-high 11 hits and 3 ER.  He struck out 7 and did not walk a batter. 

For Box Score, see:  http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_04_26_nbraax_treaax_1

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