The Thunder lost to Harrisburg, 3-2, in the process falling to second in the Eastern League East, behind the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. As it stands, it looks like those two clubs will battle for the division's top spot all summer long.

This wasn't Pat Venditte's night. He allowed the go-ahead two-run double to Josh Johnson in the seventh, but was OK in the eighth and ninth innings. Recent success notwithstanding, Venditte was visibly upset with the way he performed.

Before Johnson hit the double, Venditte was called for a balk for not stepping toward first on a pickoff throw. Steve Lombardozzi followed with an infield single, and Johnson drove both men in a few pitches later.

Venditte said he wasn't particularly unnerved by the call against him, nor did he let it hinder his concentration.

"There was still already one out in the inning, and I knew if I could make a good pitch, make a couple of good pitches, I could get a couple of quick outs and maybe get out of the inning. I got ahead there on (Johnson), 0-1 fastball away, threw the same pitch again and he put a good swing on it to left field. It's just one of those nights where things didn't go my way and I didn't execute."

Even with a few hiccups of late, Venditte has been gangbusters since May 5, when his ERA was a ghastly 6.61. Since then, he's lowered that mark to 3.20, and he credits the success to a cut fastball from the right side.

"That was an awful start to the season. Luckily, Phelpsie stuck with me and was working with me every day in the bullpen. He showed a cutter to me, which I've been throwing a ton from the right side. That's helped me immensely to go out there and get right-on-right hitters out. It's been a big confidence-booster for me. I'm just very fortunate he stuck with me and he keeps going to me."

- Craig Heyer, despite a career high-tying four walks, permitted just one run. It came on Tyler Moore's RBI triple in the first, an inning in which he walked nobody. He wasn't terribly pleased with his stuff or his outing afterward, but was thankful that he escaped relatively unscathed after six innings.

"I just didn't command the ball too well today. My change-up wasn't there. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. ... Allowing five or six hits, plus four walks is over 10 baserunners a game, so to be able to get out of it, that's a positive."

- DeAngelo Mack had two hits tonight, and he's hitting .323/.475/.548 over his last 10 games. He's got a double, two longballs, six RBIs and six walks in that time.

- Cody Johnson also had two hits, one a double just inside the left-field line, and the other a bullet off of starting pitcher Tanner Roark that drove in the Thunder's second run.

- Brad Suttle's RBI double brought home Ray Kruml with Trenton's first run.

- Jose Pirela flashed excellent range in the seventh inning after Venditte's balk. He corralled Lombardozzi's grounder to short and had the presence of mind to fire behind Jonathan Tucker at second. The throw was in plenty of time to nab Tucker, but second baseman Corban Joseph flubbed the tag.

- Not only is Kei Igawa back with the Thunder, he's back in the starting rotation too. He'll take the ball on Saturday in Binghamton.

Brad Suttle's Home Run



Melky Mesa's fantastic catch



Banuelos strikeout No. 1



Banuelos strikeout No. 2



Banuelos strikeout No. 3



Banuelos strikeout No. 4



Banuelos strikeout No. 5



Banuelos strikeout No. 6



Banuelos strikeout No. 7

PORTLAND, Me. — Just like last night, the Thunder didn’t put forth much offense against the Portland Sea Dogs. This time, though, it cost them a game.

Brad Suttle collected the team’s only two hits – both singles in a 7-0 loss at Hadlock Field in the team’s penultimate game before heading home for the inaugural 2011 homestand.

Trenton native Steve Garrison started and, after cruising for a few frames, got roughed up by Portland’s bats in the fourth. Five of the first six Sea Dogs hitters against Garrison in that inning collected hits, including doubles from Oscar Tejeda, Jonathan Hee and Alex Hassan.

As has been the case quite often this season, Trenton’s defense didn’t perform well. Jose Pirela made his fifth error of the season and Yadil Mujica committed one later on, adding to the team’s total of 12 over the first six games. To put that into perspective, the Thunder wound up with 95 miscues in 142 games through all of 2010.

Aside from Suttle’s two knocks, the only other offensive output the Thunder mustered against Red Sox prospect Alex Wilson came via walks from Cody Johnson and Myron Leslie, playing first base in his season debut.

Notably, Addison Maruszak made his professional catching debut in place of Austin Romine, who had caught the previous five games.

The road swing concludes tonight when Shaeffer Hall takes the ball against Brock Huntzinger at 6:00 p.m.

TAMPA, Fla. – With spring training all but over, the minor league rosters have been all but finalized. The Trentonian this morning was able to get its hands on a copy of something a source confirmed was “pretty much” what the team would look like come Opening Day.





Among the roster’s highlights will be Steve Garrison, the Trenton native and Hun School alumnus. Per pitching coach Tommy Phelps, Garrison is slated to be the team’s fifth starter, following Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances, Graham Stoneburner and Shaeffer Hall.

Acquired from the Padres toward the conclusion of last season, Garrison just missed making the big club as a left-handed arm out of the bullpen. Luis Ayala eventually won the job, but Garrison stayed in the mix until the very end.

The rest of the roster shakes down like this: Austin Romine will be the starting catcher for the second straight season, and Myron Leslie, a former Oakland farmhand, will back him up.

On the infield, you can expect to see Brad Suttle, Corban Joseph, Jose Pirela and Addison Maruszak from first to third. Yadil Mujica, a Cuban defector who recently signed on with the Yankees, might also see time at third.

Jack Rye, an outfielder with Tampa and who has spent time this spring breaking in a first baseman’s mitt, will fit in as a utility player.

The outfield will have former first-rounder Cody Johnson, whom the Braves let go this offseason, along with Melky Mesa and Damon Sublett. Austin Krum and Ray Kruml, speedy outfielders both, will also be in the mix.

The bullpen should have distinct flavors of both left-handedness and internationality, with Japanese southpaws Kei Igawa and Noaya Okamoto both fitting into relief roles. Wilkins Arias, a stalwart on previous Thunder squads, also returns to Waterfront Park.

Igawa is in the final season of a five-year, $20 million contract that, for the Yankees, has been a total disaster. For the Thunder, however, putting a guy who has been near-dominant at Triple-A might be an absolute coup.

He’s never pitched at Double-A, instead going straight from Tampa to Scranton back in 2007, his inaugural season with the Yankees.

Other arms in the bullpen are Cory Arbiso and Craig Heyer – long relievers and spot starters both – as well as Tim Norton, Fernando Hernandez and Pat Venditte, the switch-pitcher.

…

Manny Banuelos started for the Tampa work group today, putting him on track for Opening Day on Thursday in New Hampshire. Because Kevin Millwood was getting his work in with the Triple-A work group, David Phelps got the start with the Thunder. He’ll more than likely start Opening Day with Scranton. Brett Marshall took the ball for the Charleston group, meaning he’ll probably be on the mound when the Tampa Yankees open their Florida State League title defense on Thursday.

Romine and Suttle each homered in the Thunder’s win over the Jays’ Double-A squad.

With Donnie Collins peering into Scranton's future over at his blog, I figured I'd do the same over here. We'll start today with the infield, which, because a bit of a logjam of up-the-middle talent, has the potential to feature a prospect of some degree at every position.

First base - Brad Suttle: After missing all of 2009 with an injury, Suttle really broke out this season at High-A Tampa, hitting .272/.340/.411 with 10 home runs and 80 RBIs. Problem is, at 25 years old, and with scouts' reviews not terribly pleasing, Suttle's stock is falling.

Second base - Corban Joseph: The wispy middle infielder faltered after making his way to Trenton toward the end of the 2010. He hit just .216/.305/.342 with in 31 games with the Thunder, including just five hits in 42 at-bats against left-handers. Still, the swing is pure, and he'll get another crack at Double-A in 2011.

Shortstop - Jose Pirela: He hit just .252 with Tampa last season, but impressed Yankees brass enough to earn a spot in the Arizona Fall League when Joseph's late-season wrist injury forced him to shut it down for the year. He didn't hit terribly well in the AFL, but produced a .333/.387/.858 line with Zulia of the Venezuelan Winter League. He also stole 30 bases in 37 tries with Tampa.

Third base - David Adams: I think Adams and Joseph will split time at third and second, but Adams should see the majority of the time at the hot corner. He played 14 games there in 2009 with Charleston, and could move over there this season to get everyday time with Joseph and Pirela in the same locker room. I wouldn't be shocked to see him spend time at designated hitter, either.

Utility - Myron Leslie: This is exactly the kind of player Tony Franklin covets. He plays multiple positions, and will do anything asked of his skipper. In 2010 with Tampa, Leslie played catcher, first base, second base and even pitched a game. He could fill a very similar, Justin Snyder-esque role with the Thunder in 2011.

Toward the beginning of the offseason, I spoke to a couple of scouts about some of the Yankees prospects at Scranton, Trenton and Tampa. I'm no talent evaluator, so I like to talk with scouts as often as possible to get a more professional opinion about what I'm seeing. Here are what a couple of them had to say about some of the hitters in the system:

MELKY MESA

He's got a lot of tools. He's a very good athlete with a lot of holes in his swing. The percentage of him making the big leagues is slim, but if he does, it will be as a starter. He's not going to be a fourth or fifth outfielder.

He's got the rare combination of power and speed. He swings and misses a lot and needs to cut down on his swing. He's susceptible to the breaking ball and gets himself out. If he can get pitchers to get him out, he has a chance to be good.

BRAD SUTTLE

He's a polished player, but not that good of an athlete. He's a slow-twitch muscle guy who knows how to play. His range is below average. He's not a Suttle guy.

CORBAN JOSEPH

He's going to hit. He makes good contact, and is going to play in the big leagues. Adequate defender. Just like Utley, his ticket to the MLB is going to be his bat. This is not to say he's as good a hitter as Utley.

AUSTIN ROMINE

He has real defensive abilities. He has the chance to be a plus defensive catcher in the MLB. Compared to Brad Ausmus who can hit.

Another scout said: Defensively, he still has to improve. When he saw him (late season), he looked worn out. Did a good job with higher velocity kids. Got a good report from the Arizona Fall League.

JESUS MONTERO

He's a gifted hitter, but is going to need to find a different position. Offense is so far ahead of the bat. If he were to be in the big leagues this year, he could survive, but you wouldn't see the real potential until the second year.

BRANDON LAIRD

Questionable defense. He'll make the big leagues, but he won't be anything special. He hits bad pitching, good pitching can get him.

A different scout said: Bat is ahead of his defense, where he seems to be limited to the corners. Not much in the run game. The bat is real. Threw out a Jeff Conine comp. His swing has strength and leverage. He takes good at-bats and is aggressive.

The List

RHP: Jason Hirsh (AAA), Ronny Marte (Hi A), Jonathan Ortiz (Hi A), Zack Segovia (AAA), John Van Benschoten (AAA)
LHP: Wilkin de la Rosa (AA), Jose Quintana (Lo A)
C: Ronny Calderon (R), Jose Gil (Hi A), Robby Hammock+ (AAA), P.J. Pilittere+ (AAA), Rene Rivera (AA)
1B: Brian Baisley++ (AA), Myron Leslie (Hi A)
3B: Marcos Vechionacci (AA)
SS: Eric Bruntlett (AAA)
OF: Justin Christian (AAA), Edwar Gonzalez (AAA), Reid Gorecki (AAA), Rudy Guillen+ (Hi A)

My thoughts: A lot of these are interesting. Eight of the 20 played in Trenton in 2010. I wouldn't be surprised to see Jose Gil back and doing the catching for the Thunder next season. Marcos Vechionacci finally started to show some potential with his bat, but it would seem that Brad Suttle is ripe for a promotion to Double-A. If they re-up with Vechionacci, I imagine he either would play first with Trenton or third in Scranton.

Given what happened with De La Rosa toward the end of the season -- losing his 40-man spot, allegations of illegal injections -- combined with a really bad year, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Yankees cut their ties with him.

A return for Edwar Gonzalez also wouldn't shock me.

What did surprise me was Jonathan Ortiz's free agency. I did not realize he'd been around long enough to be eligible. Hard to imagine him not being a big part of the Thunder bullpen next year, but I've been wrong before.