Chiavacci Masterful as Trappers Trounce Beavers

July 6, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release


Right-hander Ron Chiavacci (2-1) allowed only one run on four hits, while tying a club season-high by striking out nine batters in 8.0 masterful innings on the hill as the Edmonton Trappers trounced the Portland Beavers 9-1 Sunday afternoon at PGE Park in Portland. The win gives the Trappers a two games to one series victory and moves them 1½ games ahead of the second-place Beavers in the North Division standings. Edmonton has owned Portland this season, winning five of the seven games played between the two clubs. The Trappers are now 25-14 all-time against their division rivals.

Chiavacci earned his second win of the season with Edmonton. He has gone undefeated in four starts since rejoining the club from Double-A Harrisburg on June 20. The Trapper rotation has been stellar as of late, compiling a 5-2 record and a 2.60 ERA in the last 13 games. The starters have allowed more than two runs only two times in those 13 outings. Edmonton begins a three-game series in Salt Lake against the Stingers on Monday night. The club will return home on Thursday to begin a five-game set against the Fresno Grizzlies on Thursday night.

With two out in the top of the first inning Portland left-hander Mike Bynum (4-5) hit Trapper All-Star center fielder Terrmel Sledge with a pitch. First baseman Ryan Balfe followed with a base hit through the right side of the infield to put runners at first and second for right fielder Valentino Pascucci, who deposited a Bynum pitch over the fence in right-center field for his 10th home run of the season. The Beavers cut into the lead in the bottom of the second inning when Canadian-born outfielder Jason Bay took Chiavacci deep for his 11th longball of the campaign. Chiavacci yielded only two more hits the rest of the way. The Trappers added to their lead with a home run from an unlikely source, second baseman Luis Figueroa. The slick-fielding infielder had not homered in 2003 entering the game and had only 14 longballs in his entire career before Sunday afternoon. Figueroa led off the third inning with a home run to left field that gave Edmonton a 4-1 lead.

The Trappers added two more runs off Bynum in the fourth inning. Left fielder Matt Cepicky led off with a single and Randy Knorr followed with a double to put runners at second and third. The Beavers walked third baseman Jake Thrower intentionally to get to Chiavacci, but the move backfired when the hurler doubled to right-center field, plating Cepicky and Knorr with the Trappers fifth and sixth runs. Chiavacci added to Portland's woes by retiring 13 consecutive batters before finally allowing a double to Ben Risinger with one out in the eighth inning. Edmonton rounded out the scoring with three runs in the seventh inning off reliever Jose Silva. Anthony Medrano drew a walk to start the inning and advanced to second on a base hit by Sledge. Balfe plated Medrano with a single up the middle and Pascucci followed with a double down the left field line that drove home Balfe and gave the big slugger his fourth RBI of the day. He later scored on a double by Cepicky. Kevin Joseph finished off the game for Chiavacci with a perfect ninth inning.

Highlights:

Trappers: Are 19-24 on the road...are 17-7 when the opponent starts a left-handed pitcher...are 14-7 in the last 21 games...are 12-7 vs. the North Division...Sunday's game was the 11th of 14 consecutive games against the North...have 872 hits in 86 games, putting the club on pace for 1450 hits...the club record is 1459... Edmonton leads the season series, 5-2...Edmonton leads the all-time series, 25-14.

RF Valentino Pascucci: Was 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and four RBI...was 6-for-13 (.462) in the three-game series...is batting .369 (31-for-84) with 26 RBI in his last 25 games...entered the game second in the PCL in on-base percentage (.437).

Alumni Report:

1B Scott Spiezio (ANA) @ OAK: Hit a game-tying two-run home run off A's closer Keith Foulke in the top of the ninth inning, but Oakland won the game 6-5 in the bottom half of the frame on a sacrifice fly by Erubiel Durazo...was his eighth home run of the season.



Pacific Coast League Stories from July 6, 2003


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