Pascucci Homers Twice as Trappers Bash Sidewinders
Published on July 18, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
Right fielder Valentino Pascucci was 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI as the Edmonton Trappers downed the Tucson Sidewinders 10-4 Thursday night at Tucson Electric Park. Pascucci has been Edmonton's hottest hitter in July. He now has five home runs and 19 RBI in only 15 games this month and leads the club with 64 RBI on the season. The win is the Trappers third in a row, their fifth in six games and their 20th in the last 30 games.
Edmonton has rode the hot streak into first place in the North Division of the PCL and now leads the division by three games over the Portland Beavers. The victory broke a string of six consecutive losses in Tucson for Edmonton dating back to last season. The Sidewinders opened the season by sweeping the first four games of the season from the Trappers. Edmonton has since posted a 21-22 record on the road. The Trappers and Sidewinders will continue this five-game series on Friday night with a doubleheader at Tucson Electric Park.
Tuesday night's pitching match-up was a promising one with two undefeated hurlers taking the mound. However, the Trappers didn't waste any time getting to Tucson left-hander Chris Capuano (6-1) for four runs in the first frame. With one down in the inning Luis Figueroa walked, Terrmel Sledge doubled and Luis Ortiz followed with a run-scoring single. Pascucci then drilled his 11th home run of the season over the fence in left field to give Edmonton a 4-0 advantage. Peter Bergeron reached safely on an error with one out in the second frame, moved to second on a single by Figueroa and scored on a base hit by Ortiz to give Edmonton a five-run lead. Bergeron also started a rally in the fourth inning, singling with one out and then scoring on a double by Figueroa. Sledge and Pascucci drew walks to load the bases and Scott Hodges earned a free pass that forced Figueroa home with Edmonton's seventh run. Capuano lasted just 3.2 innings, allowing seven runs, six earned on eight hits and four walks, while fanning four.
The other undefeated starter was Edmonton right-hander Seung Song (4-0). He faired much better than his Tucson counterpart, keeping the Sidewinders off the board until the fourth inning when Chad Tracy singled with one out and eventually scored on a wild pitch by Song. Steve Neal doubled to lead off the Sidewinders half of the fifth inning and scored on Song's second wild pitch of the contest. Ortiz singled with one out in the top of the sixth and Pascucci followed with his second dinger of the night to give the Trappers a 9-2 lead. Song left after 6.0 stellar innings, allowing only two runs on three hits and three walks, while fanning eight for the victory. Figueroa's second double of the game in the top of the seventh inning plated Song with the Trappers 10th and final run. Reliever Kevin Joseph took over for Song and yielded solo home runs to Tim Olson in the seventh and Billy Martin in the eighth, but held on to record his first save of the season.
Highlights:
Trappers: Are 21-26 on the road...scored 10 or more runs for the seventh time this season...are five games over .500 for the first time this season...are 19-8 when the opponent starts a left-hander...are 20-10 in the last 30 games...are 24-22 vs. the South Division...Thursday's game was the sixth of 20 consecutive games vs. the South...have 961 hits in 95 games, putting the club on pace for 1447 hits...the club record is 1459...Tucson leads the season series, 4-2...Tucson leads the all-time series, 157-135.
RF Valentino Pascucci: Had his second multiple-homer game of the season...was 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI...has five home runs and 19 RBI in 15 games in July...leads the club with 64 RBI and is tied for the team lead with 12 home runs.
Alumni Report:
LF Bobby Kielty (TOR) @ BOS: Was 3-for-4 with three runs scored, a home run and an RBI in his Blue Jays debut as Toronto defeated Boston 5-2 at Fenway Park...hit a solo home run off Casey Fossum in the sixth inning...has 10 home runs and 33 RBI.
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 18, 2003
- RedHawks Shutout Zephyrs, 2-0 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Meadows Fires Two-Hit Shutout At Royals - Nashville Sounds
- Beavers Help Raise Funds in Poisoned Dogs Case - Portland Beavers
- Astros Sign Keisler - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Pascucci Homers Twice as Trappers Bash Sidewinders - Edmonton Trappers
- Despite Late Rally, Beavers Lose 4-3 in Front of 15,454 - Portland Beavers
- Back-to-Back Jacks Down River Cats - Sacramento River Cats
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