Trenton

The Trenton Thunder are a win away from a second consecutive Eastern League championship after beating the Akron Aeros, 4-1, last night at Waterfront Park. The victory gave the New York Yankees' double-A affiliate a two-games-to-one lead in the best-of-five title series. Austin Jackson's home run gave Trenton a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Thunder scored the deciding run in the fourth on an RBI single by Kevin Russo, and Reegie Corona delivered another score with a sacrifice fly. The game had been rescheduled from Friday night because of rain.

Salvador Paniagua knocked in all four runs with a homer and a three-run double as Binghamton defeated Trenton, 4-0, in the first game of an Eastern League doubleheader. In the second game, Trenton scored all the runs it would need with a three-run second inning in a 5-1 win. Reading 1, Harrisburg 1 (suspended) READING - The Eastern League contest was called in the top of the 10th inning because of rain. The teams are to complete the contest today at 1:05. They also have a 1:35 p.m. game scheduled.

TRENTON - The Trenton Thunder ripped four home runs and overpowered the Erie Seawolves, 5-2, in an Eastern League game last night, in front of a sellout crowd of 6,981 at Waterfront Park. Trenton received a two-run homer in the fourth inning by Justin Headley, his eighth of the year, enabling the Thunder to overcome a 2-0 Erie lead. The Thunder added solo homers by Tonayne Brown, his seventh, and Tom Sergio, his 10th, in the fifth for a 4-2 lead. Fred Sanchez added his third home run in the eighth inning The homers came off Erie starter Nate Tekavec (6-5)

AKRON, Ohio - Chris Malec drove in two runs and three Trenton pitchers held the Akron Aeros to four hits as the Thunder won the first game of the Eastern League championship series, 3-1. Malec singled in a run in the first and broke a 1-1 tie with a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Starter Eric Hacker allowed three hits in six innings to win his second game of the playoffs. Michael Dunn pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, striking out three, and Jhonny Nu?ez got the save with 1 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out two. Game 2 of the five-game series is scheduled for 7:05 tonight in Akron.

TRENTON - The chief of staff to the mayor of New Jersey's capital city has been suspended without pay following his arrest on drug charges. Paul Sigmund IV has been relieved of his duties "indefinitely" after allegedly trying to buy heroin Sunday night, Mayor Tony Mack said yesterday. Sigmund also was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer. Sigmund, 46, couldn't be reached for comment. He joined Mack's administration in March after state officials urged Mack to hire a chief of staff.

TRENTON - Bronson Sardinha's two-run triple in the eighth inning led Trenton past the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 6-4, last night in the Eastern League as the streaking Thunder won their 11th game in a row. Sardinha, just sent down from triple-A Scranton yesterday, also had a two-run homer and four RBIs. Reading 6, Harrisburg 1 READING - Juan Tejeda slugged a pinch-hit grand slam in the eighth to give the Phillies a win over the Senators in the Eastern League. Ottawa 5, Norfolk 4 OTTAWA, Ontario - Gary Burnham's two-run homer in the seventh gave the Lynx a win over the Tides in the International League.

TRENTON - Todd Carey of Trenton scored on a throwing error in the bottom of the ninth in a 6-5 win over the Norwich Navigators yesterday that ended the Thunder's losing streak at four games in the Eastern League. Tom McGraw (1-1) earned the win with one inning of relief. READING 5, CANTON-AKRON 1 CANTON, Ohio - Chad McConnell's home run in the sixth inning sealed the Phillies' victory over the Indians in the Eastern League. David Fisher's two-run double in the fifth had put the Phillies up, 3-0. In the bottom half of the inning, Bruce Aven scored on Enrique Wilson's sacrifice fly to close the gap to 3-1. NORFOLK 4, SCRANTON 1 NORFOLK, Va. - Luis Rivera hit RBI doubles in the second and sixth innings to lead the Tides past the Red Barons in the International League.

The Trenton Thunder's Eastern League playoff game at Harrisburg was rained out last night. It will be made up at 7:05 tonight. Harrisburg leads the best-of-five Southern Division final series, two games to one. The fifth game, if necessary, will be at Trenton at 4:05 p.m. tomorrow. Portland tied the Northern Division finals at two games each with a 4-2 victory at Binghamton last night. The deciding game will be at Portland at 7 tonight. The championship series will begin at the home of the Southern Division winner either tomorrow or Monday.

ALTOONA, Pa. - Simon Pond's two-run double in the fifth inning powered the Altoona Curve to a 3-2 victory over the Reading Phillies in the Eastern League yesterday. Connecticut 3, Trenton 2 NORWICH, Conn. - Jesse Floyd picked up his first win as the Defenders edged the Thunder in the Eastern League. Frederick 10, Wilmington 9 FREDERICK, Md. - Pete Shier's RBI single won it in the ninth as the Keys beat the Blue Rocks in the Carolina League. Lakewood 3, Hagerstown 2 LAKEWOOD, N.J. - Avelino Asprilla's RBI single in the seventh inning plated the winning run for the BlueClaws in the South Atlantic League.

Democrats should unveil their government ethics reform package in Trenton any day now. No, really. Assembly Majority Leader Joe Roberts Jr. (D., Camden) has promised to introduce this month a plan to de-louse a state government that is crawling with pay-to-play money. Tomorrow is the Assembly's last day of work before going on a five-week recess. Gov. Jim McGreevey, who cannot greet a sunrise without a new, scandalous fund-raising eruption, reiterated last week his commitment to ethics reform by July 1. Gee, Trenton is such a cynical place; eyebrows raise and smirks appear every time Democrats make these noble-sounding vows.