Thunder mash past Binghamton in front of sell-out crowd
TRENTON » The allure of Tim Tebow drew the 19thlargest crowd in Arm & Hammer Park history on Friday night.
With an announced attendance of 7,838, which included standing roomonly fans, the Thunder beat Tebow’s visiting Binghamton Rumbles Ponies, 10-2, in the first of a threegame weekend series.
Tebow, who batted 1-for-3 with a stand-up double down the rightfield line in the sixth, received loud cheers whenever he stepped to the plate.
“It definitely means a lot to have support. I think it means even more to have a lot of youth groups or groups of people with special needs,” Tebow said before the game. “That’s really special, but I try not to get too high or low with how the fans respond. You can have some cheering for you, and all of a sudden you miss two or three in an autograph line, and then they’re booing you pretty fast.”
The excitement on the field began in the bottom of the first when Thunder shortstop Abiatal Avelino hit an inside-the-park home run as center fielder John Mora whiffed on a dive in left center.
Billy Fleming, Jhalan Jackson and Gosuke Katoh all mashed solo home runs in successive innings before Trenton broke the game wide open with a sixrun eighth.
After RBI doubles by Jhalan Jackson, Jeff Hendrix and Avelino, Trey Amburgey crushed a two-run home run to left center.
Right-hander Brian Keller earned the win on the mound by tossing a solid six innings, allowing two runs on four hits with no walks and three strikeouts.
Binghamton relievers Austin McGeorge and Adonis Uceta yielded a combined seven runs on eight hits in two innings.
The series continues Saturday night at 7 p.m., with available tickets again being standing room-only.