Dog Days in the Desert
Published on May 8, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
Center fielder Wilkin Ruan was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, a triple and two runs batted in as the Las Vegas 51s downed the Edmonton Trappers 7-3 Wednesday night at Cashman Field in Las Vegas. The loss was the Trappers fifth in six games in Las Vegas this season and drops the club's road record to 6-12. Edmonton is 1-9 in games played in Tucson or Las Vegas thus far in 2003. The Trappers last road trip, to Sacramento and Fresno, was a successful one that saw the club win five of eight games. Edmonton has started the season with 28 of their first 32 games against the South Division. The Trappers are currently 11-15 against the South. This will be the club's final trip to Las Vegas this season. The 51s currently boast the best record in the PCL at 24-9. Edmonton and Las Vegas continue this four-game set on Thursday night at Cashman Field. Edmonton's "Boys of Summer" will return to TELUS Field to begin an eight-game homestand on Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader against the Portland Beavers.
The Trappers got on the board first with a single run in the second inning off Las Vegas starter Lindsay Gulin (4-1). With two out Matt Cepicky singled to right field. He scored when the next batter, catcher Randy Knorr, doubled to left. The lead did not last long as Las Vegas got to Edmonton starter Tim Drew for three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Chin-Feng Chen led off the frame with a single and moved to second on a single by Koyie Hill. Ruan then tripled to right center, plating both runners and giving the 51s the lead. He scored on a ground out by Gookie Dawkins. Edmonton rallied to tie the score at three in the top of the third inning as Scott Hodges doubled with one out and scored on a two-out, two-run home run by Valentino Pascucci.
Unfortunately for the Trappers that was as good as things were going to get. The 51s scored once in the bottom of the third inning on a double by Bubba Crosby that plated Jason Romano from second base. They scored once more in the fourth inning to take a 5-3 lead. Ruan led off with a single and stole second. Dawkins followed with a base hit that plated Ruan with the fifth Las Vegas run. With one out in the fifth inning Crosby doubled to right field and then stole third. Chen followed with a run-scoring double and Chris Clapinski greeted reliever Bobby Rodgers with a base hit that plated Chen with the final run of the contest. The Trapper bullpen, which has been stellar as of late, tossed 3.2 shutout innings in relief of Drew, but the 51s pen also did their job shutting Edmonton out over the final 4.0 innings to preserve the win for Gulin.
Highlights:
Trappers: Are 11-8 in the last 19 games...are 6-12 on the road...are 11-15 against the South Division...have committed eight errors in six games at Cashman Field...are 1-9 in Tucson and Las Vegas this season, but are 12-8 elsewhere...Las Vegas leads the season series, 5-1...Edmonton leads the All-Time series between the two clubs, 140-136.
LF Matt Cepicky: Was 2-for-4 with a run scored extending his hitting streak to five games...is 9-for-19 (.474) in that span...has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games, going 25-for-63 (.397) with two home runs and 13 RBI...has eight multi-hit games in that period.
RHP Julio Manon: Struck out two and walked one in 1.0 innings of relief...has yielded a hit in only three of his 12 outings...has allowed one earned run in 14.2 innings this season (0.61 ERA).
Alumni Report:
DH Bobby Kielty (MIN) @ TB: Hit a solo home run off left-hander Joe Kennedy as part of a seven-run fifth inning as the Twins downed the Devil Rays 11-6...also singled, scored twice and drew a walk...is batting .318 with 15 RBI.
RHP Juan Rincon (MIN) @ TB: Earned the win after entering the game in relief of starter Joe Mays in the fourth inning...tossed 3.2 innings, allowing two hits and one walk, while fanning one...was his first win of the season (1-0)...has a 1.15 ERA with the Twins.
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 8, 2003
- Sounds Down River Cats, 5-3 - Nashville Sounds
- Meadow's late single nips Express - Round Rock Express
- Royals Score Run in Eight to Defeat Zephyrs, 2-1 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Fans' Lucky Charms Needed to Snap Losing Streak - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Listen to today's game - Round Rock Express
- Dog Days in the Desert - Edmonton Trappers
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