Final score: Trenton 9, Portland 2

Synopsis: After being held to just a walk over the first five innings, during which they saw just 50 pitches, the Thunder exploded on lefty Drake Britton and reliever Chris Balcom-Miller for nine runs and 10 hits on 34 pitches. Scottie Allen tossed six innings of one-run ball in his debut, and lefty Rigoberto Arrebato finished the game's final three frames. 

That's offensive: In the sixth inning, everything. Trenton carded nine straight hits, bookended by Jose Pirela's double (which broke up Britton's no-hitter) and three-run homer. Last night was the first time since June 5 that Trenton has scored more than five runs. Entering the night, they'd scored 46 runs all month. 

“That was some pretty good baseball, I’d say,” Thunder manager Tony Franklin said. “I think that’s what we hope that we get every day, every night. That’s what we got the three days in Akron. We got it again tonight. Those are guys stepping up and doing what’s required of them.”

For perspective on the nine hits in a row in one inning, the major league record is 11, set by the Rockies in 2011. 

They got hits from guys on hot streaks (Pirela, Reegie Corona), guys who've struggled (Carmen Angelini, guys from Indy ball (Andrew Clark), and everybody in between. 

They also got fluky hits. Kyle Roller's double was only nominal. In the real world, it was a fly ball that Kolbrin Vitek, playing left field for the 12th time in his career (no pro outfield games before this year) lost in the lights. It fell untouched, and Trenton's rally kept rolling. 

Heathcott's triple also might have been caught by a more experienced left fielder, but it was hit much harder. 

Armed and ready: Besides the crazy offense, Trenton got some pretty darn good pitching out of two of its new guys. Allen, who said he'd been battling control issues with Tampa, allowed just the one run on three hits and three walks over six innings. Cuban lefty Rigoberto Arrebato fanned four over the final three innings. 

"I went out there and just executed my plan, just tried to throw strikes and get people out as quick as possible," Allen said. "I've been struggling with my control a little bit lately, and I just went out there and slowed the team down and tried to keep the team in the game." 

Streaky, very streaky: With the win last night, Trenton has three streaks of four-plus wins this season. It also has two streaks of four-plus losses.

Picks to click: Here are my game story, my notes, and my short Pineda story from yesterday. 

Flick to click: Because I can't beat theirs today, here is the Thunder's highlight reel from the win over Portland.