TRENTON, N.J. (AP) – Trenton Thunder pitchers Eric Schmitt, Ben Julianel and Justin Pope combined on a five-hit shutout as the Thunder defeated Portland 2-0 Friday night in the Northern Division playoffs. Portland leads the best-of-five series 2-1.

The Thunder scored their only runs on bases-loaded walks in the third and sixth innings off Portland starter David Pauley.

Schmitt worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing just three hits, to earn the win.

Portland loaded the bases in the eighth inning, but Pope got Hanley Ramirez to ground out to end the inning. Pope got out of another bases loaded jam in the ninth as he got David Murphy to hit into a fielder’s choice to end the game. The Sea Dogs left 12 men on base.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Trenton.