51s Blast Trapper Bullpen for Nine in the Ninth
Published on July 24, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
What started out as a beautiful day turned into a dark and stormy night for the Edmonton Trappers as the Las Vegas 51s rallied for nine runs in the top of the ninth inning to down the Trappers 11-7 Wednesday night at TELUS Field. Unfortunately for the Trappers this is the second time in just over a month that the 51s have mounted a huge rally against the Edmonton bullpen. On June 20th Las Vegas scored 10 times in the eighth inning to beat Edmonton 15-9. It was the biggest inning in Las Vegas' history; Wednesday night's nine-run explosion is now the second biggest inning in franchise history. The loss dampened what was otherwise another big night for Trapper outfielder Terrmel Sledge, who went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, a home run and two RBI to extend his hitting streak to eight games. Despite the loss the Trappers still lead the North Division of the PCL by four games over the Salt Lake Stingers. The Trappers and 51s close out this four-game set on Thursday night at TELUS Field.
It was the Trappers who got on the board first with two runs in the bottom of the second. With one out Scott Hodges reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a single to left by Matt Cepicky, who returned the Trapper line-up on Wednesday night after a brief stay in the big leagues. Randy Knorr drew a walk off Las Vegas starter Andrew Lorraine to load the bases for second baseman Jake Thrower, who lofted a sacrifice fly into right field to plate Hodges with the first run of the contest. Sun Woo Kim followed with a base hit down the right field line that scored Cepicky. Las Vegas cut the lead in half with a run off Kim in the third inning. Koyie Hill was hit by a pitch with two out in the frame. Kim then walked Rick Bell and yielded an RBI single to Chris Clapinski that scored Hill from second. Edmonton took a two-run lead in the fourth inning, plating an unearned run off Lorraine. Thrower singled with two out, advanced to second when Kim reached on an error by Lorraine and scored on a bloop single to left by Peter Bergeron.
TELUS Field has proven to be a home run paradise for Las Vegas left fielder Chin-Feng Chen. The Taiwanese slugger belted his seventh home run his last eight games in Edmonton with one out in the top of the fifth inning to draw the 51s to within one run of the lead. The Trappers responded with two more runs in the bottom of the frame. Sledge led off with a single and moved to third on Valentino Pascucci's second double of the game. With one out Matt Cepicky grounded out, plating Sledge with Edmonton's fourth run. Pascucci scored the fifth run on an errant throw by Clapinski, the Las Vegas shortstop. Sledge hit a two-run home run off former Trapper David Lee (3-1) in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Edmonton what seemed to be an insurmountable five-run lead. The 51s scored the nine runs on an RBI single by Joe Thurston, a bases loaded walk to Chen, a sacrifice fly by Hill, an RBI double by Bell, an RBI single by Clapinski, a passed ball that allowed Bell to score from third, a two-run double by Nick Theodorou and an RBI double by Thurston. Chuck Crumpton (0-1) allowed six runs on five hits and a walk to take the loss.
Highlights:
Trappers: Are 30-21 at TELUS Field.lost for the first time when leading after eight innings.are 12-2 when the opponent starts a left-hander.have a 14-8 record in July.are 9-4 in the last 13 games and 24-13 in the last 37 games.are 28-25 vs. the South Division.Wednesday's game was the thirteenth of 20 consecutive games vs. the South.have 1032 hits in 102 games, putting the club on pace for 1447 hits.the club record is 1459.Las Vegas leads the season series, 10-5.Edmonton leads the all-time series, 144-141.
LF Terrmel Sledge: Singled and scored in the fifth inning.hit a two-run home run off David Lee in the eighth inning.has hit safely in eight consecutive games.is 16-for-35 (.457) during the streak and has scored 11 runs..has 14 home runs and 64 RBI.
Alumni Report:
1B Bobby Kielty (TOR) vs. CWS: Was 2-for-4 with two runs scored in a losing effort as the White Sox plated three runs in the top of the ninth inning to overcome a 6-4 deficit and go on to defeat the Blue Jays 7-6.hit his 16th double.is batting .268.
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 24, 2003
- Sounds Extend Division Lead With 6-5 Win - Nashville Sounds
- Gosling Lifts Tucson to Win in His Hometown - Tucson Sidewinders
- Trappers Game Cancelled - Edmonton Trappers
- Missions pull away from Express - Round Rock Express
- Sky Sox Homestand Notes - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Sox lose 5th straight - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Astros to Hold Tryouts at Zephyr Field - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Isotopes Double up Zephyrs, 6-3 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Sacramento Falls to Portland, 10-3 - Sacramento River Cats
- 51s Blast Trapper Bullpen for Nine in the Ninth - Edmonton Trappers
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