Chen Drives in five as 51s Down Trappers
June 17, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
Left fielder Chin-Feng Chen was 3-for-5 with two runs scored, two doubles, a home run and five RBI as the Las Vegas 51s defeated the Edmonton Trappers 10-3 Tuesday night at TELUS Field. The Trappers are in the midst of the toughest homestand possible as the top two clubs in the Pacific Coast League, Las Vegas and Sacramento, are visiting Edmonton for an eight-game stretch. The Trappers managed a split against Sacramento in their four-game set, but dropped the opening game of this series to the 51s on Tuesday to drop to 2-3 on the homestand and 18-14 overall at TELUS Field. Las Vegas has been especially tough on the Trappers this season. The 51s took six of eight games from Edmonton earlier this season at Cashman Field and are now 7-2 against the Trappers. Most of the games in the season series have been close with six of the first eight contests being decided by two runs or less. Las Vegas and Edmonton continue this four-game series on Wednesday night at TELUS Field.
The 51s got on the board first as Chen took a Tim Drew (2-8) pitch the other way down the right field line for his seventh home run of the season. Edmonton battled right back with two runs in the bottom of the second. With one out Valentino Pascucci reached on an infield single. Third baseman Scott Hodges followed with a triple to right-center field that plated Pascucci with the tying run. Randy Knorr then doubled down the left field line, scoring Hodges with the go-ahead run. The Trappers threatened with runners at the corners and one out in the third inning, but Las Vegas starter Scott Winchester (2-6) got Matt Cepicky to ground into a double play to get out of that jam. Edmonton picked up a single run in the fourth inning as Hodges singled with one out and moved to second on a base hit by Knorr. Drew moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt and Luis Figueroa followed with a base hit to left field that scored Hodges with Edmonton's third run.
Drew had allowed only one run and three hits through the first five innings, but it all came unraveled for him in the sixth. Wilkin Ruan led off with a single and stole second. Joe Thurston then singled to center, scoring Ruan from second. Chad Hermansen followed with a base hit to left center and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. With one down Koyie Hill reached on an infield single that scored Thurston and advanced Hermansen to third. Chen laced a double to left field, plating Hermansen and moving Hill to third. Drew was replaced by Chuck Crumpton, who walked Rick Bell and allowed a sacrifice fly by Eric Riggs that scored Hill with the fourth run of the inning. The 51s loaded the bases off Crumpton in the top of the seventh as Ruan singled, Thurston drew a walk and Hermansen singled. With one down Hill grounded into a fielder's choice that scored Ruan with the 51s sixth run of the game. Las Vegas' bullpen shut the Trappers down the rest of the way and the 51s' bats came through with four insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Hermansen doubled, Larry Barnes reached on an infield single and Hill drew a walk to load the bases. Chen plated all three runners with a double down the left field line then scored on a one-out single by Eric Riggs.
Highlights:
Trappers: Are 18-14 at home.visiting club has scored the first run in all five games on this homestand.are 2-3 on an eight-game homestand that will see the top two clubs in the PCL visit TELUS Field.are 14-23 against clubs with winning records.are 10-25 when the opposition scores the first run, including a 7-11 mark at TELUS Field. Las Vegas leads the season series, 7-2.Edmonton leads the All-Time series between the two clubs, 141-138.
3B Scott Hodges: Plated the Trappers first run of the game with a triple in the first inning and scored the club's second run on a Randy Knorr double.also singled and scored in the fourth inning.is 17-for-45 (.378) with three home runs and 10 RBI in June.
Alumni Report:
1B Jason Giambi (NYY) vs. TB: Hit a solo home run off Jeremi Gonzalez in the first inning as the Yankees crushed the Devil Rays 11-2 in the first game of a doubleheader.was 3-for-4 with two RBI in the second game as New York won 10-2.has 50 RBI.
Pacific Coast League Stories from June 17, 2003
- Chen Drives in five as 51s Down Trappers - Edmonton Trappers
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- Fireworks, Gaylord Perry Bobbles, and Hat Day at Cheney - Tacoma Rainiers
- Sox lose after 1 hour and 39 minute rain delay - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Beavers Take Series Finale over Isotopes - Portland Beavers
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