TRENTON- It has been an interesting, and fantastic, three months for the Trenton Thunder. The final two-plus months look to be even more special, as the Thunder push to make the Eastern League playoffs for the first time since 2013. With an eight game lead in the standings over Hartford for a spot in the postseason, it may be...
TRENTON- It has been an interesting, and fantastic, three months for the Trenton Thunder.
The final two-plus months look to be even more special, as the Thunder push to make the Eastern League playoffs for the first time since 2013. With an eight game lead in the standings over Hartford for a spot in the postseason, it may be a matter of time before Trenton has locked up a trip to Reading for the right to play for a championship.
But how did the Thunder get to this point, where they are 52-30, with the second-best record in the Eastern League? Let's take a look at the five best moments from the first half of the 2016 season.
1. Tyler Wade's walk-off inside-the-park home run, June 28- It took a whole series of events to get the Thunder to the point where Wade circled the bases for a dramatic 10-9 comeback win over Portland. Mark Payton came off the bench in the bottom of the ninth, and crushed a three-run blast into the Delaware River to tie the score at 9-9. It set the stage for Wade, who lined a ball over the centerfielder's head and came all the way around, to set off a wild celebration at home plate.
"No, no, no, no, no," Wade said. "I was telling one of the guys last night. I didn't see Bobby (Mitchell, who was coaching third). I was going regardless. Because I remember when I hit second, I saw the ball kick back, and I was like, I am not stopping."
"I was just trying not to trip," Wade said. "My legs were getting a little tired. That was the most exciting ninth inning I have ever been a part of in my life. It was unreal. I couldn't even talk last night. It was fun."
2. Ronald Herrera and Jonathan Holder combine for a no-hitter, April 25- Herrera, who has been very good for the Thunder, went eight innings, and allowed just two base-runners. He handed the ball off to Holder, who closed out the 4-0 win over New Hampshire, and gave the Thunder just their second nine inning no-hitter in franchise history.
"First of all, I have to thank God for everything he has done for me, and keeping me healthy so I can do what I love to do," Herrera said through pitching coach Jose Rosado. "During the off season, I was very focused. Everything I was doing is starting to pay off so far. I am just going to continue to stay focused, and do my job."
"I know the results would come after that," Herrera said. "Early in the game, I didn't have my best fastball command, but I kept throwing my changeups. They allowed me to get some quick outs, especially with his lineup, that had so many lefties. Then later on, I was able to get my fastball command."
"Putting those two pitches together was the key to me having success," Herrera said.
Herrera won the EL Pitcher of the Week award for his exploits.
3. Dietrich Enns starts the year with franchise-record 24.1 innings shutout streak, and is rewarded with the Eastern League Player of the Month award- Enns was 3-0, with a 0.00 ERA in April. It was a no-brainer that he was the top player in the league for April.
"It is an honor, and I am very humbled to get it," Enns said. "It is a team thing too. We played well, and had some good defense behind me. The catchers were good behind the plate, we got a little luck, and some hard work put into it."
"As a pitcher, if you can get ahead of guys and get quick outs, you are going to be more successful," Enns said. "Obviously, when you fall behind, and you are in bad counts and trying to make a good pitch, you may walk a guys. More guys on base, more runs are going to score."
4. Thunder go 22-9 in June to pull away from Hartford- June was a warm month, but for the Thunder, it was white-hot. Trenton won seven of nine series in the month, including two sweeps, and ended the month on a seven-game wining streak. Amazingly, the Thunder made up no ground on the Reading Fightin Phils, who lead all of organized baseball with a 59-23 record.
5. Kyle Higashioka's career day leads to EL Player of Week award, June 26- Higgy has been mashing at the plate, and he was a one-man wrecking crew in the Thunder's 12-2 win over Akron. He was 3-for-5, with two home runs, a double, three runs scored, and seven RBI. It was the end of a great week, where the catcher hit .467with 12 RBI.
It was also Higashioka's second award of the year, adding to his International League Player of the Week he won with Scranton for June 6-12.
Basketball star Frantz Massenat visits Thunder, throws out first pitch
Wade, who has been hot at the plate, is the NJ.com/Daceys Pub Player of the Week.
The shortstop hit .350 over the last 10 games, with four multi-hit games, and the walk-off home run Tuesday night. He has his average up to .279, and leads the Thunder with 55 runs scored, which is 19 more than Lane Adams. He also leads the team with 43 walks, and has an on-base percentage of .380.
Wade's play has earned him a trip to Akron for the 2016 Double A All-Star game on July 12. He has been the prototypical leadoff hitter, and with Dustin Fowler, Miguel Andujar, and Kyle Higashioka in the two through four spots, it is no wonder why Trenton is scoring more runs.
Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean