Beavers Return the Favour
August 22, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
First baseman Tagg Bozied was 3-for-3 with two runs scored, a double, a home run and three RBI as the Portland Beavers downed the Edmonton Trappers 9-3 Thursday night at PGE Park in Portland. Edmonton had won the first two games of the series, outscoring the Beavers 26-11 in the process. The loss leaves the Trappers ½ game behind the Salt Lake Stingers in the North Division standings. Salt Lake also lost on Thursday night, 3-2 to the Tacoma Rainiers. Portland is in third place in the division, only 3 ½ games behind the Stingers. Edmonton had totally dominated the season series against Portland before Thursday night winning seven of the nine games and outscoring the Beavers 64-32. The Beavers set a season-high for an Edmonton opponent by going deep four times on Thursday night. They have homered seven times in the last two games. Edmonton's record on the road falls to 30-36 with the loss. The club is 16-21 since the All-Star break. The Trappers and Beavers continue this five-game series on Friday night at PGE Park. Edmonton will begin a crucial five-game set in Salt Lake on Sunday night.
Left-hander Scott Downs (7-9) was optioned to Edmonton on Thursday after spending most of the last two weeks in the big leagues with the Montreal Expos. He last appeared in a game on August 10th and the rustiness appeared to show on Thursday night as he surrendered six runs on four hits and two walks in only 1.0 inning of work. Second baseman Bobby Scales led off the first inning with a double to left field. Third baseman Rico Washington followed with his second home run in as many days to give the Beavers a 2-0 lead. Canadian-born Jason Bay and Bozied drew walks to set up a three-run home run by Xavier Nady. With one out Wiki Gonzalez took Downs deep for his third dinger of the season. Amazingly Downs had only surrendered nine home runs in 109.0 innings with the Trappers before yielding three longballs on Thursday night. Blake Stein replaced him in the second inning and the Beavers greeted the right-hander by scoring three runs as Scales led off with a single, advanced on a walk to Bay and scored on a three-run shot by Bozied to left field.
Stein went on to pitch 4.2 scoreless innings after the Bozied home run, but Portland starter Ben Howard (7-9) was too tough on this night and the Trappers were unable to fight their way back into the game. Howard had a four-hit shutout going when Terrmel Sledge led off the sixth inning with his club-leading 19th home run of the season. It was the only run he would allow in 7.0 stellar innings or work. Howard surrendered six hits and three walks, while fanning four en route to his seventh victory of the season. Lefty Kevin Walker took over in the eighth inning and allowed two runs. Valentino Pascucci led off the frame with a walk and Matt Cepicky followed with a single to left field. Scott Hodges grounded out, advancing both runners and Randy Knorr followed with a single down the right field line that plated Pascucci with the Trappers second run. Shortstop Anthony Medrano then doubled down the left field line, scoring Cepicky with the final run of the contest. The Trapper bullpen allowed only three runs in 7.0 solid innings of work.
Highlights:
Trappers: Are 30-36 on the road...are 10-10 on the road since the All-Star break...are 16-21 since the All-Star break...are 27-37 in games decided by more than three runs...the last seven games between Edmonton and Portland have been decided by more than three runs...trail the North Division-leading Salt Lake Stingers by ½ game...the Beavers are in third place, three games behind the Trappers...are 21-16 vs. the North...Edmonton leads the season series, 7-3...Edmonton leads the all-time series, 27-15.
RF Terrmel Sledge: Hit his 19th home run of the season, a career-high, in the sixth inning, to break up Ben Howard's shutout...has hit safely in eight consecutive games. ...is 14-for-32 (.438) during that span...has also set career-highs with 82 RBI and 148 hits.
RF Bobby Kielty (TOR) vs. SEA: RBI double in the fourth inning scored Carlos Delgado, giving the Blue Jay a 2-0 lead...put Toronto ahead 3-0 with another RBI double in the seventh...was 3-for-5 as the Blue Jays beat the Mariners 7-3...has 45 RBI.
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 22, 2003
- Sounds' Game Suspended Due To Rain - Nashville Sounds
- Bergman Wins Pitcher of Month Award - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Sounds Giving Away Greer Stadium On Fan Appreciation Night - Nashville Sounds
- Burke named to Post-Season All Star Team - Round Rock Express
- Sox win; tied for first in the Central - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Buck Activated from Disabled List - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Zephyrs Beat Redbirds, 5-2 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- River Cats Keep Rolling - Sacramento River Cats
- Beavers Return the Favour - Edmonton Trappers
- Beavers Score Big Win - Portland Beavers
- DeVore's Double Lifts Tucson in Wild Game at Fresno - Tucson Sidewinders
- Express can't keep up with Drillers - Round Rock Express
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