Minor Leagues: Durbin gets little help in 5-2 defeat

READING - Colin Curtis slugged a two-run home run off former Philadelphia Phillie J.D. Durbin to lead the Trenton Thunder past the Reading Phillies, 5-2, in the Eastern League yesterday.

Durbin, making his first start since being sent down from triple-A Lehigh Valley, was victimized by winds and shaky outfield play.

With two outs and two on in the third, Trenton's Austin Jackson lofted the ball to right, and Jeremy Slayden broke in on it. He then retreated and appeared to make the catch, but dropped the ball. Two runs scored on the error.

Curtis followed with the mammoth homer to right to give the Thunder a 4-1 lead.

Durbin, 0-5 with a 9.42 ERA for the IronPigs, went five innings and allowed four hits, struck out four and walked two. The four runs he gave up were unearned.

Trenton's Jason Jones (7-0) allowed one run in six innings and leads the league in victories.

Lehigh Valley 7, Charlotte 2

ALLENTOWN - Brian Mazone scattered seven hits in eight innings as the IronPigs won their third in a row in the International League.

Lakewood 5, Greensboro 4

LAKEWOOD, N.J. - Four BlueClaws pitchers combined to strike out 13 batters as Lakewood won in the South Atlantic League.

Atlantic City. The Surf's Can-Am League season opener in Quebec City was rained out.

Trenton 004 000 100 - 5 7 0

Reading 010 000 010 - 2 10 0

WP: Jason Jones (7-0). LP: J.D. Durbin (0-1). Save: Bo Hall (1). HR: T-Colin Curtis (3); R-Mike Spidale (1). A: 7,067.

Charlotte 000 002 000 - 2 7 2

Lehigh Valley 003 020 20x - 7 10 1

WP: Brian Mazone (5-3). LP: Wes Whisler (5-2). HR: C-Brad Eldred (16); LV-Michael Rouse (4). A: 6,723.

Greensboro 202 000 000 - 4 7 1

Lakewood 121 001 00x - 5 10 2

WP: Zack Sterner (1-0). LP: Eric Basurto (0-1). Save: Jared Simon (6). A: 5,002.