Ortiz Homers Twice as Trappers Top 'Topes
June 22, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
First baseman Luis Ortiz was 4-for-5 with four runs scored, a double, two home runs and three RBI to lead a 15-hit barrage as the Edmonton Trappers downed the Albuquerque Isotopes 12-8 Sunday night at Isotopes Park. The multiple-home run game was a first for an Edmonton batter in 2003 and marked the second consecutive day in which Ortiz has gone deep. He has the hottest bat among several Trapper players who are make life difficult for opposing pitchers right now. Ortiz is 8-for-11 in his last three games and has 10 extra-base hits in his last 30 at-bats. The club has banged out 47 hits in the last three games and leads the Pacific Coast League with a .303 team batting average. Edmonton has 747 hits this season, putting the club on pace to break the franchise record of 1459, set in 1983. The Trappers have won six of their last eight games and are only 1½ games behind the Portland Beavers in the North Division standings. Edmonton and Albuquerque continue this four-game series on Monday night at Isotopes Stadium.
The Isotopes led briefly in the game after plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning off Trapper starter Tim Drew (3-8). With one out Wilson Valdez singled and stole second base. He advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a double by former Trapper of the Year Jason Wood. The PCL home run leader, Robert Stratton, then doubled to left field, scoring Wood, and Chris Wakeland followed with a single that plated Stratton with the third run. The Trappers bounced right back with four runs off former Trapper hurler Aaron Small (0-1) in the second frame. Matt Cepicky singled with one out and moved to second when Valentino Pascucci drew a walk. With two out Randy Knorr singled to score Cepicky, Drew doubled to plate Pascucci and Peter Bergeron singled, scoring Knorr and Drew. Ortiz hit the first of his two home runs with no one on and one out in the third inning. Scott Hodges led off the fourth inning for the Trappers with his second triple of the year and later scored on a throwing error by Small. Bergeron followed later in the frame with a triple of his own that plated Drew to give Edmonton a 7-3 lead.
Albuquerque came right back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth as Matt Treanor singled with two out and scored on Matt Erickson's second home run of the season. Ortiz led off the fifth inning with a double and moved to third on a passed ball. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Terrmel Sledge. Veteran outfielder Gerald Williams led off the fifth inning with his fifth longball of the campaign to draw the Isotopes to within two runs of the lead at 8-6, but that was as close as they could get. Anthony Medrano led off the seventh inning with a single and scored on Ortiz' second dinger of the day, his eighth of the season. With one down in the ninth inning Ortiz singled off Vladimir Nunez and Sledge followed with his team-leading 12th home run of the season. Albuquerque scored two times in the bottom of the inning off reliever Bryan Hebson to round out the scoring. Chris Wakeland led off with a double and later scored as Chad Allen grounded out. Treanor scored the final Albuquerque run on a bunt single by Valdez.
Highlights:
Trappers: Are 16-22 on the road...had a season-high nine extra-base hits (4 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR)...have collected 10 or more hits in six consecutive games and in nine of the last 12 games...are batting .333 in those 12 games...lead the PCL with a .303 team batting average...have 747 hits in 73 games, putting the club on pace for 1463 hits...the club record is 1459...the club record for team batting average is .303...are 4-14 when the opponent scores the first run on the road...are 6-8 vs. the Central Division with all those games being played away from TELUS Field...Edmonton leads the season series and the all-time series, 2-0.
1B Luis Ortiz: Was 4-for-5 with four runs scored, a double, two home runs and three RBI...is 8-for-11 (.727) in his last three games...has driven in 14 runs in only 10 games in June, while going 15-for-30 with four home runs in that span.
Alumni Report:
3B Casey Blake (CLE) @ PIT: Was 3-for-3 with a run scored, two doubles and two RBI as the Indians rebounded after losing back-to-back 15-inning decisions to the Pirates with an 8-5 victory...had two sacrifice flies...is batting .254 and has 16 doubles.
Pacific Coast League Stories from June 22, 2003
- Ortiz Homers Twice as Trappers Top 'Topes - Edmonton Trappers
- Norris bomb ends road trip - Round Rock Express
- Sacramento Takes Down Omaha, 3-1 - Sacramento River Cats
- Sounds Stay Hot With 3-1 Win Over Sky Sox - Nashville Sounds
- Beavers Beat Redbirds in Ninth, 1-0 - Portland Beavers
- Sounds Silence Stark, Sox - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Zephyrs Defeat Rainiers, 7-4 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- The Hits Just Keep Coming - Edmonton Trappers
- River Cats' Winning Streak Ends - Sacramento River Cats
- Redbirds Get Rare Road Win - Portland Beavers
- Express loses one at the buzzer - Round Rock Express
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