Final score: Trenton 5, Binghamton 1

Synopsis: Trenton couldn't reach B-Mets starter Rafael Montero until the seventh, when Jose Pirela's leadoff walk sparked a four-run rally that included a two-run single from Slade Heathcott and a two-run triple from Ali Castillo. 

What went right: It looks like Heathcott's finally on the right track. After a disastrous April, the Thunder's center fielder is 7 for his last 17 with five RBIs and is riding a four-game hitting streak. 

He said after the game that he's been doing lots of extra hitting and video work with hitting coach Justin Turner, and so far it's been paying off. Manager Tony Franklin also said Heathcott had been "vaulting" at the plate, which seems like a technical term for shifting his weight forward too early and getting in front of the ball. 

"We've been watching film, (taking) early hitting, extra hitting," Heathcott said. "Things like that when Pat Roessler is in town. We're doing all we can do. The main thing is just getting your body in a position to see the ball and be in a position to swing and put a good swing on it at that time. I think the biggest thing is seeing the ball, so just try to figure out what we can do for me to see the ball a little bit better. I think that's kind of our goals as hitters."

After Ramirez's so-so outing (we'll get to that later), the bullpen, and lefty Josh Romanski in particular, was dynamite. He and Danny Burawa pitched five scoreless frames and allowed just a walk in the ninth inning. Romanski mixed four strikeouts into his three perfect innings, and afterward noted that his and Ramirez's contrasting styles may have helped his success. 

"Any time I can come in and keep them off balance after a guy like (Jose), it’s going to help me out,” he said."

Since getting lit up in his first outing with the Thunder, Romanski has tossed 8 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings. In that period he's surrendered just six hits, walked one and fanned eleven.

What went OK: Jose Ramirez had great stuff last night. Big fastball, nice slider, excellent change-up. Stuff without command, however, can be problematic. Ramirez was wild all over the strike zone but still limited Binghamton to just one run -- a booming homer from right fielder Cesar Puello -- before being lifted after the fourth. 

As anybody who watched Ramirez in spring training knows, that's pretty much the norm. He can be electric and shut down a lineup for seven innings, or he can lose his command and get in big trouble early. 

"I tried to make some adjustments, but I was getting out of concentration sometimes," Ramirez said with the help of bench coach Luis Dorante. His command did get better as the game went along, something he credited to getting more on top of the ball, which increased his arm angle and forced the ball down in the zone. 

What went wrong: Rob Segedin's not coming back for the foreseeable future, if at all this year. He told me yesterday that he has femoroacetabular impingement -- a degenerative hip condition he shares with Alex Rodriguez -- in both his hips. You can read more about the details of the condition here. 

The question now is whether he'll rehab the injury or opt for surgery. He's already seen Thunder team doctor William Gomez as well Dr. Bryan Kelly, the same doctor who treated Rodriguez. If he opts for surgery, Kelly will be the one operating.

Segedin said yesterday that he's known about the condition since he was 15 and he's done all he can to manage it. He aggravated the injury diving for a ball in Akron and hasn't played since. His locker was cleaned out yesterday and he was saying goodbye to his teammates, so it's probably safe to say he's gone for the year.

Happy trails: After much deliberation, Caleb Cotham was finally promoted to Triple-A. This move had been rumored since Sunday, but the Yankees didn't pull the trigger until after last night's game. He'll start on Thursday for the RailRiders. Mikey O'Brien, who was promoted from Tampa yesterday, will start on Friday for the Thunder.

Chad Jennings reported this morning -- and I speculated yesterday -- that Francisco Rondon's time in the rotation is over. With that news in mind, here's how the rotation should stack up the rest of the way:

Tonight: Nik Turley
Tomorrow: Zach Nuding
Friday: Mikey O'Brien
Saturday: Matt Tracy
Sunday: Jose Ramirez

Picks to click: Here are my game story and notes from Tuesday.

Flick to click: Here's my highlight reel from Tuesday's win.