First-Place Trappers Shutout Fresno
July 13, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
Left-hander Scott Downs (7-4) tossed 6.1 shutout innings, allowing only two hits as the Edmonton Trappers shutout the Fresno Grizzlies 2-0 Sunday afternoon at TELUS Field. Downs turned in one of the best pitching performances of the season by a Trapper hurler in his first start after spending a month on the disabled list. He retired the first 13 batters and faced the minimum through six innings. For Downs it was his club-leading seventh win of the season and his fourth victory of the campaign against the Grizzlies. As a team the Trappers dominated the season series against the Grizzlies, winning 13 of the 16 contests, including four of the five games in this series. The Trappers have won 19 of their last 29 games to move into top spot in the North Division, a position they have occupied for the entire month of July. The club is off the next three days for the All-Star Break. Outfielder Terrmel Sledge will be the Trappers lone representative in the game. Edmonton will resume play in Tucson on Thursday night, where they will play a five-game series.
Edmonton got on the board first with a single run in the bottom of the third inning off Fresno starter Jeff Urban (3-6). With one out in the frame center field Peter Bergeron drew a walk. Second baseman Luis Figueroa lashed a double down the left field line that plated the speedy Bergeron all the way from first base. The Trappers added to their lead in the fourth inning with another run off Urban. Valentino Pascucci drew a walk to open the inning and moved to second on Scott Hodges' single to right. With one down Scott Sandusky drew a base on balls to load the bases for Downs, who grounded into a fielder's choice, allowing Pascucci to score the Trappers second run. Urban left after 5.0 innings of work. He seemingly was in trouble the entire afternoon, but allowed just the two runs. Urban walked six batters and allowed two hits, while striking out four. Relievers Luis Estrella and Manny Aybar shut the Trappers down the rest of the way, allowing only one hit in the final three innings.
Downs took a perfect game into the fifth inning and retired leadoff batter Todd Linden, but then surrendered an infield single to left fielder Carlos Valderrama. He then got Francisco Santos to ground into a double play and retired five batters in a row before allowing a one-out double to Cody Ransom in the seventh inning. Anthony Ferrari too over from there and retired the next five batters before allowing a leadoff single to Craig Kuzmic in the ninth inning. Closer Chuck Crumpton came on and retired pinch-hitter Rob Ryan, but then allowed back-to-back singles to Jason Ellison and Ransom to load the bases for third baseman Tony Torcato. For the second consecutive day Crumpton got the Grizzlies to ground into a double play to end the game as Torcato hit a ground ball to shortstop Anthony Medrano, who stepped on second base and then retired the batter at first. It was the third save of the season for Crumpton. The Trapper pitching staff held the Grizzlies to three runs or less in four of the five games in this series and posted a 3.18 team ERA in the 16 games between the two clubs this season.
Highlights:
Trappers: Are 29-19 at TELUS Field.are four games over .500 for the first time this season.are only one game behind the pace set by last year's Championship squad, which was 50-44 after 94 games.are 19-10 in the last 29 games.are 23-22 vs. the South Division.Sunday's game was the fifth of 20 consecutive games vs. the South.have 947 hits in 94 games, putting the club on pace for 1441 hits.the club record is 1459.the clubs combined to hit only one home run in the five-game series.Edmonton wins the season series, 13-3.Edmonton leads the all-time series, 35-29.
LHP Scott Downs: Took a perfect game into the fifth inning before allowing an infield single to Carlos Valderrama.allowed only two hits in 6.1 innings.struck out four in his first start since June 13.was 4-0 with a 0.71 ERA in four starts vs. Fresno in 2003.
Alumni Report:
1B Jason Giambi (NYY) @ TOR: Homered in his third straight game, a two-run shot off Kelvim Escobar in the first inning, as the Yankees defeated the Blue Jays 6-2 at Skydome.was his 26th longball of the season.drove in four runs.has 73 RBI on the season.
• Discuss this story on the Pacific Coast League message board...
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 13, 2003
- Sidewinders Win with Run in Ninth - Tucson Sidewinders
- Porter, Zephyrs Take Down River Cats, 6-5 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Sounds Drop Homestand Finale, 3-2 - Nashville Sounds
- Tollberg Takes Beavers into All-Star Break on Victorious Note - Portland Beavers
- First-Place Trappers Shutout Fresno - Edmonton Trappers
- Scott Downs Activated from Disabled List - Edmonton Trappers
- Tacoma Rallies Past Beavers - Portland Beavers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
