Thunder and rain wash away winning streak as Senators fall 6-4
“Shutdown innings”
It’s a common expression when talking to Harrisburg manager Matt LeCroy. It refers to preventing the opposing team from posting runs immediately following when the Senators score. LeCroy wishes it was another advanced statistic to track and use to evaluate pitchers and teams. It’s been an issue with the Senators all season and it reared its ugly head once again on Saturday night.
Each time the Senators pulled to within one run in the seventh and eighth innings, Trenton wasted little time answering with a run of their own off reliever Matthew Crownover. In the seventh, Zack Zehner led off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from the next batter. An inning later, Nick Solak drilled the first pitch of the frame into the Harrisburg bullpen to push the lead back to two runs.
So instead of the Senators needing just one run to tie to the game up in the late innings, they were forced to score a couple. In each of the last three innings the Senators put their leadoff hitter on second base to start the frame. But instead of strategizing for that one run to tie the game up, they were forced to play for a multi-run rally.
Ultimately, Harrisburg had a golden opportunity in the ninth as they loaded the bases with one out. But Trenton reliever Cody Carroll struck out Victor Robles and Yadiel Hernandez to strand the runners and end the game with the Senators on the losing end, 6-4.
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Harrisburg starter Austin Voth tossed what LeCroy called his “best outing” as the right-hander silenced the Thunder offense for six innings. As the storm clouds gathered, Trenton got to Voth in the seventh as an error, single, and homer erased the shutout and lead in one fell swoop.
It was an advantage the Thunder would never relinquish collaring the loss for Voth, his second against three wins for Harrisburg. The 25-year-old walked three, struck out two, and allowed six hits in his outing.
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The two teams endured a one hour, eight minute rain delay called right after Trenton took the lead in the seventh inning…Robles and Drew Ward paced the offense as each had two hits apiece…Darian Sandford stole his 18th base of the season on the front end of a double steal with Robles.
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