Balfe Bashes Trappers Past Stingers

August 27, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release


Third baseman Ryan Balfe was 5-for-5 with two runs scored, a double, a home run and two RBI as the Edmonton Trappers edged the Salt Lake Stingers 9-8 Tuesday night at Franklin Covey Field in Salt Lake City. Balfe capped his huge night with the game-winning hit, an RBI double in the top of the ninth inning that plated Terrmel Sledge from second base. With only six games remaining in the 2003 season the Trappers now lead the Stingers by 1 ½ games and the Portland Beavers by two games in the North Division standings. Edmonton has made a habit of winning close games against Salt Lake this season. In fact four of the last five wins by the Trappers over the Stingers have been by just a single digit. Overall Edmonton leads the season series eight-games-to-six and is 20-16 in one-run affairs. Edmonton and Salt Lake continue this five-game set on Wednesday night at Franklin Covey Field. The Trappers will conclude the regular season with a four-game series against the Beavers at TELUS Field over the Labour Day long weekend.

Salt Lake jumped out to an early lead with one run in the bottom of the first inning. With one out in the frame Adonis Harrison singled to left field off Trapper starter Scott Downs. Barry Wesson followed with a triple to center field, scoring Harrison. Edmonton came right back in the second inning as Luis Ortiz opened the frame with a double and later scored on a one-out single by Balfe. The Trappers took command of the contest in the third inning with five runs off Salt Lake starter Billy Stokley. Luis Figueroa drew a walk to start the inning and scored on Sledge's 22nd home run of the season. With two out in the inning Valentino Pascucci started another rally with a single to center field. Balfe followed with a base hit to put runners at first and second for Matt Cepicky, who drilled a two-run double into left field. Randy Knorr then reached on an error by Julio Ramirez in center field. Cepicky scored the Trappers sixth run on the play.

The Stingers picked up a single run off Downs in the fourth inning as Keith Johnson tripled to lead off and later scored on a sacrifice fly by catcher Tom Gregorio. The two clubs exchanged runs in the sixth inning. Knorr led off the top half of the inning with a single and advanced on a ground out. Figueroa reached on an infield single, which allowed Knorr to advance to third. An error by Harrison, the shortstop, allowed Knorr to score. Wil Nieves got that run right back for Salt Lake in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run off Downs. Balfe hit a solo home run off reliever Derrick Turnbow in the seventh inning to give the Trappers a seemingly insurmountable five-run lead. However, Salt Lake rallied for five runs off the bullpen in the bottom of the eighth to pull even. Harrison led off with a single off reliever Tim Drew and eventually scored on a Gary Johnson RBI-single. Keith Johnson then plated Wesson and Gary Johnson to pull the Stingers to within two runs of the lead. Julio Manon (2-1) replaced Drew and yielded a RBI-double to Jeff Guiel and an RBI-single to Ramirez that tied the game at eight. Sledge led off the ninth inning with a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jake Thrower and eventually scored on the double by Balfe.

Highlights:

Trappers: Are 33-38 on the road...have won three straight games...have scored 22 runs and knocked out 35 hits in the last two games...five-run third inning marked the 18th time the club has scored five or more runs in one inning...are 20-16 in one-run games...are 13-12 on the road since the All-Star break...lead the North Division by 1 ½ games over Salt Lake...Edmonton leads the season series, 8-6...Edmonton leads the all-time series, 63-62.

LF Terrmel Sledge: Was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, a home run and two RBI...walked and scored in the top of the ninth inning...has hit safely in 13 consecutive games...is 24-for-54 (.444) with six homers and 21 RBI in that span ...has 92 RBI overall.

Alumni Report:

RHP Scott Randall (CIN) vs. MIL: Made his Major League debut, tossing a scoreless inning in relief of starter Dan Serafini as the Reds fell 7-1 to the red hot Brewers, who have won eight in a row...was 12-0 with a 3.25 ERA with the Trappers in 2002.



Pacific Coast League Stories from August 27, 2003


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