Final score: Thunder 10, Portland 1

Synopsis: After allowing six runs in the eighth on Tuesday evening, the Thunder returned the favor on Wednesday morning. They scored a half dozen in the penultimate frame against the Sea Dogs on the way to securing manager Tony Franklin's 1,000th win. Shaeffer Hall also put on a clinic on the hill, working seven brilliant innings of one-run ball before being lifted for Ryan Flannery. Hall threw just 70 pitches, 56 strikes. I don't think I have to explain the excellence of an 80-percent ball-strike ratio. 

Key stat: Obviously the 1,000 wins is pretty nice, as is Hall's ball-strike ratio. The number I'm most concerned with is the number three, or the amount of extra players the Thunder had to use today because of injuries. Jose Gil came in when Jose Pirela got hit in the head with a pitch. Gil then moved behind the dish when Gustavo Molina came up with back stiffness. That move also pushed Dan Brewer from left field to first base, Addison Maruszak from first to second, and brought Zoilo Almonte in from his scheduled day off. 

With Pirela and Molina hurting, the list of injured players now includes those two, plus Rob Lyerly (arm stiffness), David Adams (neck stiffness) and Graham Stoneburner (groin stiffness). Right now, that means Maruszak is the backup catcher. I assume that means the Thunder will DL somebody and activate Jeff Farnham, who has been paper DLed since Opening Day. Mike Ashmore points out that he'll be eligible to come off the shelf tomorrow, which is pretty serendipitous timing for the Thunder. 

One of the things the Thunder had in spades to open the season was versatility. Now, with all those injuries, they'll have to use it. Maruszak in particular, who says he packs seven gloves wherever he goes, will be especially valuable with the team's two second basemen down. 

The point of versatility, I'd like to get Elias working on how often this has happened, but through the first six games the Thunder have had one guy (Abraham Almonte) play all three outfield positions, and another (Maruszak) play all four infield positions. That's pretty crazy. 

Bright spots: With Wednesday's win, the Thunder have racked up double-digit hits in three of their first six games. Also, Ronnier Mustelier, who's shown excellent contact skills, especially when it comes to fouling off pitches and extending at-bats, hit his first Double-A home run. 

Flicks to Click: Below are 16 videos I shot during Wednesday's action.