Hodges Homers Helps Trappers Past Tucson

July 20, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release


Third baseman Scott Hodges hit a three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning to give the Edmonton Trappers a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over the Tucson Sidewinders Saturday night at Tucson Electric Park. The home run, his ninth of the season, capped a big night for Hodges, who scored two runs and had three hits in four at-bats. He recently had a 13-game hitting streak come to an end and hit .359 in 35 games leading up to the All-Star break. Edmonton has tied the high-water mark for the season by moving its record six games over .500. The Trappers have won 12 of the 18 games that they have played in July and have been victorious in 22 of the past 33 contests. Edmonton was only 4-8 in one-run games on the road before pulling out the win on Saturday night. It was the 24th comeback victory of the season for the club. The Trappers and Sidewinders conclude this five-game series on Sunday night at Tucson Electric Park. Edmonton will return home on Monday night to begin a 10-game homestand against the Las Vegas 51s.

The Trappers took an early lead on right-hander Edgar Gonzalez and the Sidewinders with a single run in the top of the first inning. With two out All-Star left fielder Terrmel Sledge singled up the middle. First baseman Ryan Balfe followed with a double down the left field line that plated Sledge all the way from first base. Catcher Randy Knorr put the Trappers up by two runs with a solo home run off Gonzalez in the second inning. The lead didn't last too long though as Tucson scored three times in the bottom of the third off Trapper hurler T.J. Tucker. Junior Spivey led off with a single, moved to third on a single by Brian Gordon and scored when Danny Bautista bounced into a fielder's choice. Bautista stole second and advanced to third on a base hit by Chad Tracy. A single by first baseman Billy Martin plated Bautista and moved Tracy to second, where he scored on a base hit by Doug DeVore. Hodges tied the game in the top of the fourth inning when he scored on a base hit to right field by Knorr.

The score remained deadlocked until the bottom of the sixth inning when Tucson shortstop Jhonny Carvajal led of the frame with his second home run in as many nights. Tucker left after retiring the next two batters. He allowed four runs on nine hits and two walks, while fanning one in 5.2 innings of work. Anthony Ferrari (4-2) took over from Tucker and yielded a solo home run to Bautista in the seventh inning that gave the Sidewinders a 5-3 lead. Matt Perisho relieved Gonzalez to start the eighth inning. Sledge drew a walk to open the frame and Balfe popped out. Valentino Pascucci then reached on an infield single off former Trapper Lee Marshall (4-6), who had taken over from Perisho. Hodges took a Marshall pitch deep over the right field wall to plate Sledge and Pascucci and give the Trappers their third win in four tries in this series. Chuck Crumpton came in the eighth inning and tossed 2.0 scoreless frames for his fourth save of the season. The Sidewinders had the winning run on base in the ninth, but Martin flew out to end the contest.

Highlights:

Trappers: Are 23-27 on the road...lead the North Division by 4 ½ games over the Portland Beavers...are a season-high six games over .500...was the 24th come-from-behind win of the year...are 14-11 in one-run games...have a 12-6 record in July...are 22-11 in the last 33 games...are 26-23 vs. the South Division...Saturday's game was the ninth of 20 consecutive games vs. the South...have 992 hits in 98 games, putting the club on pace for 1448 hits...the club record is 1459...Tucson leads the season series, 5-4...Tucson leads the all-time series, 158-137.

3B Scott Hodges: His three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning gave the Trappers the win...also scored two runs and had two singles...six of his nine longballs have come on the road...upped his RBI total to 45 with the game-winning blast.

Alumni Report:

C Matthew LeCroy (MIN) vs. OAK: Three-run double off reliever Jim Mecir in the seventh inning gave the Twins a 8-4 lead as they went on to defeat the A 's 9-4...scored two runs and drew a walk...is batting .296 with 34 RBI...Twins have won three in a row.



Pacific Coast League Stories from July 20, 2003


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