First Place Trappers Edge Stingers
July 3, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
Center fielder Peter Bergeron was 2-for-4 with a run scored, two doubles, a walk and an RBI as the Edmonton Trappers edged the Salt Lake Stingers 4-3 Wednesday night at TELUS Field. Bergeron extended his hitting streak to four games, during which he is 7-for-17, with the big game. The speedy center fielder has scored eight runs in his last eight contests. The Trappers have won 12 of their last 17 games and have opened up a 1 ½ game lead over the second-place Portland Beavers in the North Division of the Pacific Coast League. Edmonton is two games over .500 for the first time this season. The club has been outstanding on this homestand which has seen them win five of seven games from North Division foes Tacoma and Salt Lake. The Trappers have also been very successful in winning close games at home. They moved their record in games decided by two runs or less to 14-5 at TELUS Field and are now 7-3 in one-run games at home. Edmonton concludes this eight-game homestand against Salt Lake on Thursday afternoon with the opportunity to win their third consecutive series. The Trappers begin a six-game road trip on Friday night in Portland.
With two out in the second inning Trappers third baseman Scott Hodges took a pitch by Salt Lake starter Kevin Gregg the opposite way down the left field line for his sixth home run of the season. Edmonton took a two-run lead in the bottom of the third inning. Terrmel Sledge reached on a fielder's choice and stole second base. Luis Ortiz followed with a base hit to left field that Gary Johnson misplayed, allowing Sledge to score the Trappers second run of the game. Salt Lake tied the game with a couple of runs with two out in the top of the fourth. Keith Johnson doubled, advancing Gary Johnson to third. Hansel Izquierdo then unleashed a wild pitch that scored Gary Johnson and Wil Nieves followed with single that plated Keith Johnson to tie the contest at two. The Trappers regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth as Bergeron led off with a double, moved to third on a single by Luis Figueroa and scored on a wild pitch by Gregg.
Edmonton expanded the lead to two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out in the frame Anthony Medrano drew a base on balls from reliever Derrick Turnbow and Bergeron followed with a double to left field that plated the shortstop all the way from first base. The Stingers closed the gap to one run in the top of the eighth inning with a single run off reliever Chuck Crumpton. First baseman Robb Quinlan, the 2002 Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player, singled to center field to open the inning. He stole second and moved to third on a ground out. Keith Johnson drew a two-out walk to put runners on the corners and Jeff Guiel followed with a single down the right field line to score Quinlan with the Stingers third run. Julio Ramirez led off the ninth inning with an infield single off closer Bryan Hebson. He stole second and advanced to third on a ground out. Hebson got Trent Durrington to ground out for the second out of the inning. Quinlan then drilled a pitch into the gap in right-center field that Valentino Pascucci made an outstanding play on to end the game. Hebson collected his second save in as many days, his sixth of the campaign.
Highlights:
Trappers: Are 25-17 at TELUS Field...lead the North Division of the PCL by 1 ½ games over the Portland Beavers...have a 14-5 record at TELUS Field in games decided by two runs or less and are 7-3 in one-run games at home...are 12-5 in the last 17 games...are 10-5 against the North Division...lead the PCL with a .301 team batting average...the Trappers lead the season series, 2-1...the all-time series is tied, 57-57.
CF Peter Bergeron: Was 2-for-4 with a walk, a run scored, two doubles and an RBI...has hit safely in four consecutive games, going 7-for-17 (.412) in that span...has scored eight runs in his last eight games, June 24-July 2...is batting .335 with 34 runs in 56 games.
Alumni Report:
3B Edwards Guzman (MTL) @ NYM: Was 2-for-4 with a run scored, a double and two RBI as the Expos downed the Mets 11-4 at Shea Stadium...also had a sacrifice fly...is batting .310 with 11 RBI since his promotion from Edmonton on June 7.
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 3, 2003
- Whiteman powers Express past Diablos - Round Rock Express
- River Cats Return Home Tomorrow for Six-Game Homestand - Sacramento River Cats
- Sounds Silence Zephyr Offense, 1-0 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Two Former Beavers Named to PCL All-Centennial Team - Portland Beavers
- Independence Day Fireworks Spectacular - Memphis Redbirds
- Trappers Stung by Late-Inning Comeback - Edmonton Trappers
- PCL Announces All-Centennial Team - PCL1
- Beavers start six-game stand with a bang - Portland Beavers
- Cubs pound Sky Sox 16-3 - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Topolski turns tables on Diablos - Round Rock Express
- First Place Trappers Edge Stingers - Edmonton Trappers
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