Patterson and Tracy Lift Tucson to Win

Published on August 24, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Tucson Sidewinders News Release


John Patterson took a shutout into the ninth inning Saturday night and Chad Tracy drove in four runs as Tucson defeated Fresno 5-1 at Grizzlies Stadium in front of 11,771.

Tucson won the last three games of the five-game series to win the series. Fresno shut out the Sidewinders in the first two games and Tucson didn't score a run until the 24th inning of the series. The win allowed the Sidewinders to move three games above .500 with nine games to play.

Chad Tracy broke up a scoreless game with a two-run homer off James Garcia in the top of the sixth. The blast was Tracy's tenth of the season allowing him to become the sixth Sidewinder to reach double figures in home runs.

Doug DeVore followed with a solo home run, his 12th, for the back to back homers, giving Tuson a 3-0 advantage.

Tracy gave Tucson an insurance run in the seventh when he singled with two outs, plating Luis Terrero. Tracy drove in his fourth run of the game in the ninth inning, doubling to right center to score Terrero again, giving Tucson a 5-0 lead.

The Grizzlies plated their only run in the bottom of the ninth when Clay Bellinger doubled with one gone and scored on a single by Lance Niekro to end Patterson's shutout attempt.

Patterson finished with 8.1 innings, seven hits and one run whle striking out six. Patterson would win the Pacific Coast League ERA title if he had enough innings to qualify. The right-hander could reach the innings mark in his last start in Sacramento. Patterson lowered his ERA to 2.39 with the win.

Tucson improved to 69-66. The Sidewinders continue the ten-game road trip Sunday night in Sacramento with the first of five against the South Division champion River Cats. Mike Gosling (9-10 5.39) will start for Tucson. Sacrmento's starter is T.B.A. for the 6:05 p.m. game.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 24, 2003


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