Rainiers Hand Trappers Seventh Consecutive Loss
Published on August 13, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
Right-hander Brian Sweeney (10-10) yielded only one run on six hits and one walk, while fanning 10 in 6.2 innings as the Tacoma Rainiers handed the Edmonton Trappers their seventh consecutive loss, 9-1 Tuesday night at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma. The losing streak is the Trappers longest since they dropped eight consecutive games from July 27 to August 4, 2001. It's been a struggle for the club since the All-Star break. Edmonton is 11-17 in that span and has averaged only 4.1 runs per game. The team batting average has dropped nine points from .299 to .290 since the break. Despite losing the first two games of this series the Trappers still lead the season series against Tacoma, eight games to six. The Salt Lake Stingers and the Portland Beavers both won on Tuesday night meaning that Salt Lake is only ½ game behind the Trappers and Portland is one game back. Edmonton and Tacoma continue this four-game series on Wednesday night at Cheney Stadium. The Trappers will return home on Friday night for a four-game series against Salt Lake.
The Trappers had a chance to take an early lead on Tuesday night when right fielder Valentino Pascucci led off the second inning with a double. Pascucci got caught in a rundown and the Trappers never mounted a rally. Tacoma, on the other hand did take advantage of their first opportunity to score. Mickey Lopez led off the bottom of the second with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single to left field by Andy Barkett. The Rainiers picked up three more runs in the third inning off Trapper starter and loser Ron Chiavacci (4-4). With one out in the frame Adrian Myers reached on an infield single. Myers then stole second and Chris Snelling was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second for Jeff Cirillo, who singled to left, plating Myers and advancing Snelling to third. J.R. Phillips plated Snelling with a sacrifice fly and Lopez followed with a single, setting up Barkett for his second RBI-base hit in as many innings.
Edmonton made their only attempt to get back into the game in the fifth inning. Matt Cepicky led off with a single and Randy Knorr followed with a base hit that put runners at first and second. Jake Thrower bounced into a fielder's choice that advanced Cepicky to third and Anthony Medrano followed with a run-scoring single that gave the Trappers their only run. Tacoma went right back to business in the bottom of the fifth, scoring twice more times off Chiavacci, who allowed seven runs, five earned, on eight hits and two walks, while fanning one in 5.2 innings. Cirillo doubled with one out in the inning and advanced to third on an error by Cepicky in left field. Lopez drew a walk with two out and both runners scored on an error by first baseman Ryan Balfe. Julio Mosquera hit a solo home run in the sixth inning to give the Rainiers a 7-1 lead. They plated two more runs in the seventh off reliever Jose Rodriguez to cap the scoring. Snelling singled, Cirillo drew a walk, Phillips reached on an error by Cepicky, Lopez knocked home Snelling with a single and Barkett plated Cirillo with a sacrifice fly.
Highlights:
Trappers: Are 27-34 on the road...have lost seven games in a row, a new the season-high...are 11-17 since the break...are 6-12 in games decided by more than three runs since the All-Star break...have allowed 16 home runs in the last nine games, during which the club is 1-8...lead the North Division by ½ game over the Salt Lake Stingers and one game over the Portland Beavers...Edmonton leads the season series, 8-6...Tacoma leads the all-time series, 210-178.
C Randy Knorr: Was 1-for-3 with a walk to extend his hitting streak to four games...is 6-for-14 (.429) during the streak and is 16-for-38 (.421) in 11 games vs. Tacoma this season...veteran catcher has 998 hits in 1073 games in his minor league career.
Alumni Report:
1B Matt Stairs (PIT) vs. STL: Went deep in the sixth inning, a solo shot off Brett Tomko, but the Cardinals prevailed 10-6...was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI...home run was his 14th of the season...is batting .305 with 36 RBI...Pirates are 54-63.
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 13, 2003
- Sidewinders Whitewash Zephyrs, 1-0 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Patterson Throws Nine Inning Shutout in New Orleans - Tucson Sidewinders
- Harleys Invade PGE Park with World Record Intentions - Portland Beavers
- Chuck Crumpton Transferred from Harrisburg - Edmonton Trappers
- Sounds To Provide Free Baseball To Non-Profit Groups On August 25 - Nashville Sounds
- 51s Return Home On Friday - Las Vegas Aviators
- Sox Fall 6-4 to Royals - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Rainiers Hand Trappers Seventh Consecutive Loss - Edmonton Trappers
- Bynum-Led Beavers Beat Sounds, Move to Within a Game of Edmonton - Portland Beavers
- Doster Homers Again But Sounds Fall To Portland, 2-1 - Nashville Sounds
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