Beavers Tie It in the Ninth, but Lose to Trappers in 12

Published on July 5, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Leave it to a team from Canada to rain on the Portland Beavers' Independence Day parade.

The Edmonton Trappers, who blew a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, upped their advantage over the Beavers in the Pacific Coast League's North Division to a game-and-a-half with a 9-4 victory over Portland in 12 innings Friday night at PGE Park.

Edmonton, the reigning PCL champion, overtook Portland atop the North Division three days ago.

But not even a loss by the home team could ruin the fun this Fourth of July. The game, which was followed by a special fireworks show, was played in front of a season-high 14,147-the second-largest crowd to attend a Beavers' home game since the 2001 renovation to PGE Park.

Only the April 30, 2001 park opener, which drew 18,616, was larger.

Termmel Sledge's two-run double broke a 4-4 tie in the top of the 11th as the Trappers (43-41) improved to 4-1 against the Beavers (44-45) this season. Val Pascucci added a two-run single as the Trappers scored five times in the frame.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Portland outfielder Jermaine Clark brought the crowd to its feet with a game-tying, two-run homer to right field to send it to extra frames.

Portland, which stranded 13 base runners in the game, had a chance to win it in the 10th. The Beavers had runners on first and second with no out in the inning but couldn't push across the winning run.

Reliever Anthony Ferrari danced around trouble in his three innings of work to get the win for the Trappers. Jose Silva gave up all five extra-inning runs to fall to 1-5 for the Beavers.

Scott Sandusky had four hits and Sledge had three to lead Edmonton. Mark Quinn led the Beavers with three hits, including his 12th double of the year.

The Beavers are now just 4-13 against opponents from their division this season. Portland's next 13 games come against North Division teams.

Edmonton took a 4-2 lead in the top of the fifth on RBI singles by Luis Figueroa and Anthony Medrano.

The Trappers got on the board in the second inning, scoring an unearned run on a double-play grounder by Matt Cepicky.

The Beavers responded in the bottom of the frame, tying things on Ben Risinger's run-scoring double down the right-field line. Portland took a 2-1 lead when pitcher Eric Knott uncorked a wild pitch, scoring Rich Gomez from third. Knott gave up two runs on eight hits in seven solid innings.

The Trappers tied the game in the top of the third as Knott came around to score from second on an error by first baseman Tagg Bozied.

NOTES: Portland catcher Wiki Gonzalez left the game after sustaining a strained calf during his at-bat in the fourth inning ... the Trappers are now 10-12 all-time on July 4, with 18 of those games coming on U.S. soil ... the Beavers are 1-2 on Independence Day ... Portland is now 3-2 in extra-inning games.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 5, 2003


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