Lopez's walk-off single lifts Trappers to dramatic win
Published on May 13, 2004 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
Pinch-hitter Luis Lopez singled with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning scoring Anthony Medrano and Scott Hodges to give the Edmonton Trappers a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox Wednesday night at TELUS Field. The come-from-behind victory was the Trappers third win of the season in their last at-bat and their second consecutive victory over the Sky Sox. Lopez, who began the season with the Montreal Expos and was optioned to Edmonton near the end of April, had been in a 2-for-30 slump before getting hits in each of his at-bats the last two night's. He was the playoff MVP in the Pacific Coast League last season, helping the Sacramento River Cats to their first title. Edmonton has been very successful at home this season, winning six of the nine games played at TELUS Field and 12 of 17 overall including the games played in Yuma, Arizona. The win by the Trappers moves them to within three games of the first-place Tacoma Rainiers in the North Division of the PCL. Edmonton and Colorado Springs continue this four-game series on Thursday night at TELUS Field.
The game featured two of the best starting pitching prospects in the Colorado Rockies and Montreal Expos farm systems as right-hander Aaron Cook faced off against Josh Karp. Cook, who spent most of the 2003 campaign in a Rockies uniform in Denver, got into trouble in the first inning as shortstop Maicer Izturis led off the frame with a base hit to left field and advanced to second on a ground out by Medrano. Hodges reached on an infield single to move Izturis to third. First baseman Jorge Toca then grounded out, allowing Izturis to score the first run of the game. The Sky Sox fought back with a run of their own off Karp in the top of the second inning. With one out in the inning right fielder Rene Reyes singled into center field. The ball ricocheted off Trappers' center fielder Brandon Watson, allowing Reyes to advance to third base. He scored on a ground out by catcher J.D. Closser. Sky Sox shortstop Clint Barmes started the third inning with a base hit to right field, but Karp responded by retiring the next 13 Colorado Springs batters.
Cook matched Karp out-for-out in the middle innings, retiring 10 consecutive batters at one point. Izturis led off the sixth inning with a base hit to center field, but Cook got out of that potential jam by getting Medrano to ground into a double play. Neither team was able to score again until the top of the eighth inning when the Sky Sox finally broke the 1-1 tie with a single run. Karp actually struck out Barmes, the leadoff batter in the frame, but the third strike got away from catcher Paul Hoover and his throw to first base was wide, allowing the potential go-ahead run to reach base. A sacrifice bunt moved Barmes to second and third baseman Garrett Atkins followed with a double to the gap in left-center field that plated the shortstop with the potential winning run. Cook struck out the side in the eighth inning, upping his total for the night to seven, but the Sky Sox turned to Marc Kroon in the ninth inning as the closer attempted to pick up his fifth save. Medrano led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Hodges reached on a bloop single and both runners later advanced on another wild pitch. Kroon struck out the next two batters, but Lopez' line drive into left field eluded Jorge Piedra allowing the winning runs to scamper home.
Highlights:
Trappers: Have a 17-16 record.are 12-5 at home, including a 6-3 record at TELUS Field.have won three games in their final at-bat and have come from behind to win nine games this season.are 5-3 in one-run games.committed two errors in the contest and have made four errors in the last two games at TELUS Field.went five games without making a miscue to end the last road trip.Edmonton leads the season series, two-game-to-none.Edmonton leads the all-time series 96-86 (.527).
RHP Josh Karp: Allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits and one walk, while fanning five in 7.1 innings of work, but did not get a decision.retired a Trapper season-high 13 consecutive batters at one point.has allowed only four earned runs in 19.1 innings over his last three starts.
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 13, 2004
- Redbirds win with seventh-inning rally - Portland Beavers
- Sounds 'Blast' Rainiers, 6-4, Using Three HRs - Nashville Sounds
- Grizzlies team up with Junior Giants for Glove Drive - Fresno Grizzlies
- George sharp, Linton roughed up in loss - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Trappers game postponed - Edmonton Trappers
- Few seats remain for Royals game at Haymarket Park - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Tucson's 6-Run 8th Fuels Comeback Victory - Tucson Sidewinders
- Lopez's walk-off single lifts Trappers to dramatic win - Edmonton Trappers
- Late rally gives Sacramento win over Omaha - Omaha Storm Chasers
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