Karpe diem
Published on May 2, 2004 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
Right-hander Josh Karp (1-3) tossed 6.0 shutout innings to lead the Edmonton Trappers past the Portland Beavers 2-1 Sunday afternoon at TELUS Field. The win, Edmonton's third in four games against the Beavers, improves the Trappers record to 14-9. The club finished the first homestand of the season with a 4-3 record. Karp earned his first win at the Triple-A level with the stellar outing. He had struggled in three of his first four starts, lasting no more than 4.0 innings and allowing four or more runs in all three of those outings. Karp was originally a first-round selection by the Expos in the 2001 draft and spent all of last season with Double-A Harrisburg. The Trappers have had a habit of getting involved in blowouts so far in 2004. Entering Sunday's game the club had participated in 11 games that were decided by five or more runs and had earned wins in seven of those games. Sunday afternoon was a much different story with the Trappers squeaking out their fourth one-run victory of the campaign. Two the three wins in the series were by one run. Edmonton will begin an eight-game road trip in Tacoma on Monday night. The Trappers are currently in first place in the North Division, ½ game ahead of the Salt Lake Stingers.
Karp looked shaky in the first inning as leadoff man Bernie Castro reached on an infield single and Jon Knott drew a walk with one out. Edmonton catcher Paul Hoover gunned down Castro attempting to steal third, but Karp then walked catcher Yamid Haad to put runners at first and second. Right fielder Alex Fernandez grounded out to end the threat. Karp yielded a one-out double in the second inning to Bobby Scales then retired the next eight batters before allowing a leadoff single to Scales in the fifth frame. Center fielder Henri Stanley doubled to start the sixth inning, but was doubled off second when Haad lined out to first baseman Luis Lopez. Portland starter Matt Bruback (0-4) was almost Karp's equal on Sunday afternoon. He got into a jam in the third inning, allowing a leadoff single to Karp, an infield single to Brandon Watson and a one-out walk to Scott Hodges, but was able to get out of the inning by inducing Lopez into an inning-ending double play. Bruback allowed two runs on six hits and five walks, while fanning five in 6.0 innings of work, but fell to his fourth consecutive defeat.
The Trappers finally broke the scoreless tie with a single run off Bruback in the fifth inning. Watson singled sharply to left field with one out and then stole second, his fourth swipe of the season. Maicer Izturis drew a walk and both runners advanced on a ground out by Hodges. Bruback then committed a balk, advancing Izturis to third and scoring Watson with the go-ahead run. Edmonton went up by two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out right fielder Jeremy Ware drew a walk and advanced to second on a base hit by Hoover. Pinch-hitter Brian Harris singled into center field with two out, plating Ware from third base with the Trappers second run. Reliever Jeremy Fikac took over for Karp in the seventh inning and got into trouble immediately. Fernandez singled to right field to open the inning and first baseman Ben Petrick followed with a double that was just barely fair past the third base bag. Fernandez scored on the play and Scales followed with a walk to put runners at first and second, but Portland wasn't able to tie the game. Edmonton closer Pat Mahomes yielded a leadoff single to Petrick in the ninth and allowed two walks to load the bases, but he managed to get Stanley to ground out to end the game. It was his third save of the season.
Highlights:
Trappers: Have a 14-9 record...finished the homestand with a 4-3 record...are 4-2 in one-run games...took three of four games from Portland...own a 22-6 (.786) record in four seasons against the Beavers at TELUS Field...lead the all-time series 33-19 (.635)...began the day with the second highest team batting average in the PCL (.301)...have scored 128 runs in the first 23 games of the season, an average of 5.6 runs per game...have hit just 12 home runs, the lowest total in the league, but have stolen 23 bases.
RHP Josh Karp: Earned his first Triple-A win...allowed only four hits and two walks, while fanning four in 6.0 shutout innings...two of the four hits were doubles...also added a single in the third inning...threw 97 pitches, 61 for strikes.
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 2, 2004
- Sidewinders Down Sacramento 13-1 - Tucson Sidewinders
- Sounds Split Twinbill With Zephyrs - Nashville Sounds
- Royals bats go hungry facing Cook, relievers - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Karpe diem - Edmonton Trappers
- Sidewinders Shutout RiverCats - Tucson Sidewinders
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