Pitchers Duel Turns into Lopsided Loss
Published on May 16, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
Pinch-hitter Pat Borders broke open a scoreless tie with a three-run double in the top of the eighth inning to lead the Tacoma Rainiers to an 8-2 victory over the Edmonton Trappers Thursday night at TELUS Field. The loss by the Trappers drops them into a second place tie with the Rainiers in the North Division of the Pacific Coast League. It was the first meeting of the season between the division rivals. Edmonton is 3-2 on this homestand and is 10-7 at home despite the loss. Tacoma's Jacques Landry homered in the ninth inning off reliever Bryan Hebson to break the Trapper pitching staff's string of homerless games at nine. Edmonton had not allowed a home run in two weeks, dating back to May 1. The Trappers, who entered the game with a league-leading .297 team batting average, tied a season-low with only six hits in the game, the second time on this homestand that they've done so. Edmonton and Tacoma continue this four-game series on Friday night at TELUS Field.
Tacoma starter Rafael Soriano, the Seattle Mariners top prospect, and Edmonton starter Britt Reames (1-5) dominated the game for most of the night. Soriano allowed back-to-back singles to Randy Knorr and Anthony Medrano in the second inning and then retired seven in a row before yielding a walk to Knorr in the fifth. He got out of that jam by getting Luis Figueroa to ground into a double play and then retired the side in order in the sixth before turning the game over to the bullpen in the seventh. Reames also pitched well, scattering seven hits through the first seven innings. He allowed a baserunner in every inning but the second, but consistently got out of jams with ground ball outs. He recorded 15 such outs altogether.
The Rainiers finally broke open the scoreless tie with six runs in the top of the eighth inning. Reames started the inning and allowed a single to leadoff man Adrian Myers. Chad Meyers reached on an error by Medrano, the shortstop, to put runners at first and second, spelling the end for Reames. Left-hander Anthony Ferrari replaced Reames and retired the first batter that he faced, but Myers and Meyers pulled off a double steal to put runners at second and third. Landry was walked intentionally to load the bases and Borders entered the game as a pinch-hitter against reliever Bryan Hebson. He cleared the bases with a double to left-center and then scored on a two-out single by Luis Figueroa. Julio Mosquera then singled to put runners at first and second and Ruben Castillo followed with a double down the right field line that scored Figueroa and moved Mosquera to third. Myers finished off the scoring in the frame with a single that plated Mosquera with the sixth run. Landry's two-run homer off Hebson in the ninth put the Rainiers up 8-0. With two out in the bottom of the inning Matt Cepicky singled and Valentino Pascucci drew a walk. Knorr then doubled, plating both runners and breaking the shutout.
Highlights:
Trappers: Are 15-11 in the last 26 games.are 10-7 at TELUS Field.six hits tied a season-low.starting pitchers have not allowed a home run in the last 12 games (71.2 IP).staff has yielded only 18 longballs all season, the lowest total in the PCL.Edmonton and Tacoma are tied for second in the PCL North.Tacoma leads the season series, 1-0.Tacoma leads the All-Time series between the two clubs, 205-170.
C Randy Knorr: Was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a walk to extend his hitting streak to seven games.is 12-for-27 (.444) with a home run, eight RBI and seven runs scored during the streak.is 6-for-10 (.600) on this homestand.
Alumni Report:
CF Jeff DaVanon (ANA) @ NYY: Hit a solo home run off Jeff Weaver in the seventh inning, his second of the season.was 3-for-4 with two runs scored.is batting .263 with seven RBI.Yankees downed the Angels 10-4 to salvage the final game of the series.
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 16, 2003
- Zephyrs Defeat Grizzlies, 7-5 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Mission bats roll through Express - Round Rock Express
- Nagy, Loewer and Keisler called up to San Diego - Portland Beavers
- Izquierdo Transferred from Vermont - Edmonton Trappers
- Lane Placed on Disabled List - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Fresno Downs New Orleans, 5-3 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- River Cats Shut Out Beavers - Portland Beavers
- Gosling Shines In 6-4 Victory - Tucson Sidewinders
- Pitchers Duel Turns into Lopsided Loss - Edmonton Trappers
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