The Thunder rode six different pitchers to victory as they advanced to their fourth Eastern League Championship Series in four years. Nik Turley made his first Double-A playoff start, and gave Trenton five-plus innings while allowing three runs on six hits and three walks. Turley struck out two, and was clocked in the low 90’s with his fastball. He also showed a nice pickoff move, catching Reading’s Tug Hulett in the fourth inning. After Turley left, five relievers would combine to allow just one run – which came when David Aardsma struggled yet again as he pitched the 7th inning.
Offensively, Trenton got home runs from J.R. Murphy and Addison Maruszak to lead them to the win. Maruszak, the only Thunder hitter to have a multi-hit game, also drove home a run with a single in the fourth inning. Tyler Austin drove home the only other run for the Thunder, doing so on a double in the second inning. They will face the winner of tonight’s Bowie/Akron game in the Championship Series next week.
