Zehner’s homer helps Thunder sweep Portland
PORTLAND, MAINE » How did the Thunder answer a three-game losing streak?
The Eastern League East Division leaders started a new winning run.
Zack Zehner hit a threerun home run in the third inning, Billy Fleming drove in two runs and the Thunder defeated the Portland Sea Dogs 9-4 on Wednesday. With the victory, the Thunder swept the threegame series.
The home run by Zehner capped a four-run inning and gave the Thunder a 4-0 lead after Jorge Mateo hit an RBI double earlier in the inning.
After Portland scored a run in the third on a single by Nick Lovullo, the Sea Dogs cut into the deficit in the fourth inning when Jeremy Barfield hit a solo home run.
The Thunder later added three runs in the fifth and two in the ninth. In the fifth, Dante Bichette drove in two runs and Zehner drove in one, while Fleming hit a two-run triple in the ninth.
Trenton starter Zack Littell (5-0) picked up the win despite allowing four runs and seven hits over six innings. Opposing starter Trey Ball (3-9) took the loss in the Eastern League game after a rough outing in which he allowed four runs and five hits over three innings.
Lovullo singled three times for the Sea Dogs.
The Thunder begin a fourgame series against New Hampshire on Thursday night at Arm & Hammer Park. The Thunder are 16-1 against the Fisher Cats this season.
Thunder outfielder Tito Polo was the fourth player sent to Chicago in the blockbuster trade between the Yankees and White Sox late Tuesday night.
Polo, 22, played 14 games for the Thunder following his promotion from High-A Tampa and slashed .382/.460/.545. In 74 games total games, Polo batted .307/.369/.455 with five homers, 37 RBIs and 27 steals.
The Yankees acquired third baseman Todd Frazier, a Toms River native and former Rutgers star, along with pitchers David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle for prospects Blake Rutherford, Ian Clarkin and major league pitcher Tyler Clippard. Trenton (Yankees) Binghamton (Mets) Reading (Phillies) Hartford (Rockies) Portland (Red Sox) New Hampshire (Jays)
Western
Bowie (Orioles) Altoona (Pirates) Erie (Tigers) Akron (Indians) Richmond (Giants) Harrisburg (Nat’ls)
Wednesday’s games
Binghamton 2, Akron 1, first game Altoona 3, Harrisburg 2 Trenton 9, Portland 4 Hartford 12, Bowie 8
New Hampshire 6, Reading 3
Erie 8, Richmond 6
Akron 11, Binghamton 4, second game
Thursday’s games W
64 52 52 44 44 39
W
50 49 49 46 39 38
L
31 40 42 50 50 57
L
46 45 45 47 55 57
Pct
.674 .566 .553 .468 .468 .406
Pct
.521 .521 .521 .495 .415 .400 Binghamton at Harrisburg, 7 p.m. Hartford at Portland, 7 p.m. New Hampshire at Trenton, 7 p.m. Altoona at Bowie, 7:05 p.m. Erie at Reading, 7:05 p.m. Richmond at Akron, 7:05 p.m.
GB
— 10 1⁄2 11 1⁄2 191⁄2 19 1⁄2 251⁄2
GB
—
—
— 2 1⁄2 10 111⁄2