Never Say Die Trappers Win Fourth Straight
August 28, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
Shortstop Anthony Medrano was 4-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI as the Edmonton Trappers downed the Salt Lake Stingers 8-3 in 10 innings Wednesday night at Franklin Covey Field in Salt Lake City. The victory is the Trappers fourth in a row and now gives them a 2 ½ game lead over the Stingers in the North Division standings. The third-place Portland Beavers trail the Trappers by three games. If Edmonton wins its next two games the club will clinch its second consecutive North Division pennant. The four-game winning streak has been anything but easy for the Trappers, who have won three of the four contests in their last at-bat. Edmonton trailed 2-0 for most of the night before plating runs in each of the last three frames and then finally winning the contest in extra innings. The club has come-from-behind to win 34 games this season and has won 15 games in its final at-bat. Edmonton is now 6-3 in extra-inning games. The Trappers and Stingers conclude this five-game series on Thursday night at Franklin Covey Field. Edmonton returns home on Friday night to begin a four-game, season-ending series against the Beavers.
Salt Lake opened the scoring on Wednesday night, plating two runs off Trapper starter Ron Chiavacci in the third inning. Chiavacci retired the side in order in the first two innings, striking out four of the six batters he faced, but the third frame was different story. Jeff Guiel drew a walk to start the inning and Tom Gregorio followed with a single to left field that moved Guiel over to second. Nathan Haynes reached on an infield single, which loaded the bases. With one out Barry Wesson singled into right field, scoring Guiel and moving the other runners up a base. Adonis Harrison then grounded out, allowing Gregorio to score the Stingers second run of the frame. Chiavacci was stellar the rest of the way, allowing only one more hit in his final four innings on the hill. In total the right-hander allowed two runs on four hits and one walk, while fanning seven in 7.0 innings of work. Unfortunately for the Trappers Salt Lake starter Chris Bootcheck was just as effective, limiting Edmonton to one run on eight hits and three walks, while striking out six in 7.0 innings.
The Trappers finally got to the right-hander in the seventh inning as Ryan Balfe led off with a single and advanced to second on a base hit by Matt Cepicky. Newcomer Jeff Bailey grounded into a double play, but Medrano followed with a two-out single that plated Balfe with the Trappers first run. They tied the game in the eighth inning as Peter Bergeron led off with a double and moved to third on an error by left fielder Julio Ramirez. Luis Figueroa then grounded out, but Bergeron scampered home on the play to tie the game at two. Edmonton took the lead for the first time in the top of the ninth. Balfe doubled to start the inning and moved to third on a fly ball. He later scored on a two-out double by Anthony Medrano. The Stingers came right back in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at three as Keith Johnson doubled with one out and scored on Wil Nieves' single. Edmonton responded with a huge five-run 10th inning to earn the victory. Bergeron walked to start the frame and moved to second on a wild pitch. Figueroa's double plated the center fielder with the winning run. Cepicky later scored Figueroa with a sacrifice fly, Bailey drove home Scott Hodges with a double and Medrano capped the scoring with a two-run double that scored Balfe and Bailey.
Highlights:
Trappers: Are 34-38 on the road...magic number to clinch the division is three...have won four straight games...have scored 30 runs and knocked out 49 hits in the last three games...five-run 10th inning marked the 19th time the club has scored five or more runs in one inning...are 14-12 on the road since the All-Star break...lead the North Division by 2 ½ games over Salt Lake and three games over Portland...Edmonton leads the season series, 9-6...Edmonton leads the all-time series, 64-62.
2B Luis Figueroa: Was 3-for-5 with a run scored, a double and two RBI to extend his hitting streak to six games...is 13-for-28 (.464) in that span...has scored a run in five consecutive games...has established career-highs in run scored (64), hits (148) and doubles (29).
Alumni Report:
3B Casey Blake (CLE) vs. DET: His RBI-double in the fifth inning gave the Indians a 7-6 lead as they went on to hand the Tigers their 98th loss, 9-7...was his 32nd double and his 61st RBI...is batting .269...former Trapper Jack Cressend earned the win.
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 28, 2003
- Memphis Redbirds Unveil 2004 Home Schedule - Memphis Redbirds
- Missions finally get to Qualls, Express - Round Rock Express
- Williams Puts Up More Zeros In 5-0 Victory - Nashville Sounds
- Koonce Named River Cats' 2003 MVP - Sacramento River Cats
- DeFrancesco Named PCL's Manager of the Year - Sacramento River Cats
- Final 2003 Rainiers Homestand, Fireworks and Food Drive - Tacoma Rainiers
- Koonce Named PCL's Most Valuable Player - Sacramento River Cats
- Express closing in on attendance record - again - Round Rock Express
- Sox Bats Come Alive in 12-11 Win in Iowa - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Expos purchase LHP Vic Darensbourg, option LHP Eric Knott to Edmonton - Edmonton Trappers
- Graham Koonce Named PCL MVP - PCL1
- RedHawks bidding for .500 or better finish - Oklahoma City Comets
- RedHawks close 2003 season with more giveaways - Oklahoma City Comets
- Gettis does in Express - Round Rock Express
- Never Say Die Trappers Win Fourth Straight - Edmonton Trappers
- Time Running Out on Beavers - Portland Beavers
- River Cats match club record with 90th win - Sacramento River Cats
- No-Hit Bid Ends with Three Sacramento Homers - Tucson Sidewinders
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