TRENTON- It seems the temperature is not the only thing that is heating up in the area. The Trenton Thunder have found their groove and started to rise up the Eastern League standings, just as the thermometer has begun to soar. Trenton, with one win in the books already this series against Erie, hosted the SeaWolves in the first...
TRENTON- It seems the temperature is not the only thing that is heating up in the area.
The Trenton Thunder have found their groove and started to rise up the Eastern League standings, just as the thermometer has begun to soar.
Trenton, with one win in the books already this series against Erie, hosted the SeaWolves in the first double-header of the home schedule Saturday night. The Thunder powered to a 7-1 win in the first contest, but dropped the second contest to the SeaWolves (22-33) 5-2.
Even with the loss, the Thunder are 11-3 over their last 14 contests. They still trail the Reading Fightin Phils (38-18) by 4.5 games in the Eastern Division standings.
Daniel Camarena made another stellar start for Trenton (32-22), to move to 3-0 at the Double A level this season. He allowed just one run in his seven innings of work, and lowered his ERA on the year to 2.08.
FIVE THINGS WE HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THE THUNDER
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Dustin Fowler has been red-hot for the Thunder, and it coincides with the rise up the Eastern Division standings for Trenton. Coming into the twin-bill, Fowler had two or more hits in six of the last 10 Thunder games, and he had two more in the first game win Saturday night.
He is 18-for-46 over that 11 game span (.391), and has his average on the year up to .279.
"I am just trying to be as short as possible to the ball," Fowler said. "Being on time, being able to recognize off-speed pitches a little bit better, and just having better approaches."
"Staying short to the ball, and being able to see it longer," Fowler said. "Laying off the off-speed a little bit better is paying off so far."
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The Thunder made some roster moves in the last few days. Reliever Mark Montgomery returned from Triple A Scranton Wilkes-Barre, and INF Matt Snyder made the jump from Advanced A Tampa. Tyler Austin (INF/OF) went up to Scranton, while Reliever Matt Tracy was released from his contract.
Montgomery came into the second game in the top of the sixth, with the Thunder down 5-2. He has his ERA down under 2.20, between the two stops, and has seven saves in eight opportunities.
Snyder had a left ankle injury last season, which limited him to just 28 games. He just recently returned to action, playing three games with Tampa last week. He was 7-for-14 in his limited time, before getting the call to the Thunder.
Snyder was in the lineup for the second game of the double-header, hitting in the cleanup spot as a DH.
"It feels amazing to be on the baseball field," Snyder (0-for-3) said. "When you have grown up your whole life playing baseball, and have a few injuries, every time you can get back on the field it is an amazing feeling. It is something that you really miss, and you really, really work hard to get back to doing."
"It is like being a little kid, and watching all the older guys play, and you can't play," Snyder said. "I wouldn't say jealousy, but you really want to get out there and play. It is tough, but you have to have a good attitude about it, and realize it is going to happen the more you play baseball."
"You just have to grind it out, and learn from everything that has happened to you," Snyder said.
Snyder played four games last year for Trenton, and went 4-for-14.
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Francisco Diaz has done a good job defensively behind the plate for the Thunder, since Kyle Higashioka left for Scranton.
Diaz threw out another potential base-stealer in the second game, and has now caught five of six on the base paths this season.
Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean