Rainiers Tied in Knotts
June 29, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Tacoma Rainiers News Release
Left-hander Eric Knott spun a masterful four-hit shutout to lead the Edmonton Trappers to a 2-0 victory over the Tacoma Rainiers Sunday afternoon at TELUS Field. He did not allow a base hit until the fifth inning when designated hitter Chad Meyers reached on a bunt single. Tacoma managed two more base hits in the eighth and right fielder Kenny Kelly collected the final single with two out in the ninth. Fittingly Rainiers' third baseman Luis Figueroa grounded into a fielder's choice to end the game. It was the 20th groundball out recorded by Knott in the contest. He did not walk a batter and struck out three along the way to even his record at 5-5. Knott has now won three consecutive starts and has posted a 2.91 ERA in that span. It was the first 9.0-inning complete game shutout by a Trapper pitcher since Adam Johnson shut the Rainiers out with a three-hitter at Cheney Stadium on May 18, 2002. The victory gives the Trappers a three games to one series victory over Tacoma and moves them one game over the .500 mark at 40-39. Edmonton has posted a 12-4 record on Sunday's so far this season and are 7-2 at home on that day of the week. The Trappers will begin a four-game series against the Salt Lake Stingers on Monday night at TELUS Field.
Tacoma right-hander Brian Sweeney (7-7) had an impressive outing of own in the early going on Sunday afternoon. He retired the first eight batters that he faced, a string that came to an end when Scott Sandusky doubled down the left field line with two out in the third inning. Sandusky was tossed out attempting to steal second, ending the Trappers first scoring threat. Center fielder Peter Bergeron drilled a Sweeney pitch to center field for a triple to open the fourth inning. With one out left fielder Terrmel Sledge singled to right to score Bergeron with the only run that the Trappers would need. Designated hitter Ryan Balfe followed with a base hit to left, but Edmonton was unable to plate another run in the frame. Sweeney recorded five outs in a row before Bergeron led off the sixth inning with his second triple in as many at-bats. The back-to-back three-baggers ties a club record for triples in a game. Edmonton second baseman Luis Figueroa followed the triple with a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Bergeron with the second and final run of the contest. Sweeney took the loss despite allowing only two runs on six hits, while fanning four in 6.0 innings on the hill.
Knott was masterful right from the opening pitch. He retired the first four batters that he faced and the streak only came to an end when he misplayed a throw from first baseman Jake Thrower and was charged with an error. The lefty retired the next nine batters before Meyers barely beat out third baseman Scott Hodges' throw on his fifth-inning bunt. Meyers stole second and moved to third base on a ground out, thus becoming the only Tacoma player to reach third base on Sunday afternoon. Knott again retired nine consecutive batters before Mickey Lopez broke up the string of outs in the top of the eighth. Ruben Castillo singled with two out in the frame to put runners at first and second, but Luis Figueroa made a fantastic play on a Jamal Strong ground ball to end the threat. Kelly singled sharply to center field with two down in the ninth, but Tacoma could not mount a rally. The Rainiers hit only six balls out of the infield all afternoon. In fact Knott did not allow a ball out of the infield from the third inning through the sixth, a span of four frames. He tossed 104 pitches, 71 for strikes, to record the win.
Highlights:
Trappers: Are 23-16 at TELUS Field.are 10-4 in the last 14 games.are one game over .500 for the first time since May 21.are 12-4 on Sunday's, including a 7-2 record at home.are 8-4 against the North Division.was the third shutout of the season.lead the PCL with a .302 team batting average.Edmonton leads the season series, 5-3.Tacoma leads the all-time series, 207-175.
LHP Eric Knott: Tossed the first 9.0-inning complete game shutout for Edmonton since Adam Johnson shutout Tacoma on May 18, 2002.allowed only four hits, all singles.did not walk a batter and struck out three.recorded 20 groundball outs.
Alumni Report:
RF Matt Stairs (PIT) vs. COL: Smashed a three-run home run off right-hander Shawn Chacon in the third inning to help lead the Pirates past the Rockies, 9-0.was his sixth home run of the season.drove in four runs in the contest and now has 17 RBI.
Pacific Coast League Stories from June 29, 2003
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- Tennyson, Afash Fuel Timbers' 2-0 Win - Portland Beavers
- Beavers Rally for Late-Inning Win - Portland Beavers
- Rainiers Tied in Knotts - Tacoma Rainiers
- Capuano Flirts with No-Hitter, Winders Win in Vegas - Tucson Sidewinders
- Sox Fall 7-4 to RedHawks - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Figueroa Caps Wild Night with Game-Winning Double - Edmonton Trappers
- Beavers Win High-Scoring Affair - Portland Beavers
- Las Vegas Cools off Sidewinders - Tucson Sidewinders
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