The Trenton Thunder (2-1) limited Richmond to three hits in a 6-2 defeat of the Flying Squirrels (1-2) on Saturday afternoon in frigid Trenton, NJ. Dylan Davis and Jerry Sands each launched solo home runs for Richmond in the loss. Trenton took advantage of eight walks and six wild pitches to take game three of the four game series. Thunder starter Dillon Tarte dealt six innings in the win.
The Thunder manufactured a run in the first inning without the benefit of a hit for a 1-0 lead. Gosuke Katoh worked a leadoff walk and advanced to second a base hit. A groundout from Chris Gittens moved Katoh to third and he scored on the second wild pitch of the inning. Johnson regained his composure and struck out Bruce Caldwell to end the inning.
Dylan Davis tied the contest in the top of the second inning with a solo home run over the left centerfield wall. Davis homered off Yankees No. 10 prospect Dillon Tate and has homered in two of the first three contests of the year.
Richmond starter Jordan Johnson scuffled with the execution of his breaking ball and allowed a pair of runs in the third to fall behind, 3-1. Johnson walked Jorge Saez and Chris Gittens and unleashed a pair of wild pitches that brought home the second run of the game. Bruce Caldwell then launched a double down the right field line for a 3-1 Trenton advantage.
Tate recovered from the Davis home run and retired 12 consecutive batters into the sixth inning. The righty allowed just one run on two hits. Tate (1-0) walked one and struck out five to earn the win.
More control issues plagued Johnson in the fourth, leading to another run and an early departure for the righty. Rashad Crawford worked a walk to begin the inning and took second via a balk. After a groundout, Johnson reached his pitch limit of 75 and was replaced by Dan Slania. Trenton’s Ben Ruta muscled a sacrifice fly off Slania for a 4-1 lead.
Johnson (0-1) lasted 3.1 innings and allowed the four runs on two hits. The righty walked five and struck out five while tossing five wild pitches. Slania worked 2.2 innings of relief and Caleb Simpson punched out a pair of batters in his Richmond debut.
Jerry Sands homered in the ninth to trim the deficit to 6-2 before Joe Harvey finished the game.
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Chris Graham
