Scott Downs Optioned to Edmonton

August 21, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release


EDMONTON, AB - The Edmonton Trapper Baseball Club announced today that left-handed pitcher Scott Downs has been optioned from the Montreal Expos. Downs will start tonight's game against the Portland Beavers at PGE Park in Portland. In addition the club announced that left-handed pitcher Jose Rodriguez has been placed on the seven-day disabled list. Edmonton's roster currently stands at 24 players; 12 pitchers, two catchers, six infielders and four outfielders, plus three players (left-handed pitcher Jose Rodriguez, right-handed pitcher Jose Colon and right-handed pitcher Bo Donaldson) on the disabled list.

Downs, 27, went 0-1, 15.00 (3.0 IP - 5 ER) in one start with the Expos. Prior to being recalled by Montreal on August 9, the Louisville, Kentucky native was 7-8, 4.05 (109.0 IP - 49 ER) in 18 starts with the Trappers. Downs was activated from the seven-day disabled list on July 13. He was originally placed on the DL on June 18 with left shoulder soreness. His best stretch of the season came from May 11 through the 21st when he won three consecutive starts and posted a 2.66 ERA (20.1 IP - 6 ER). He did not allow a home run in his first 10 starts of the season, a span that covered 54.0 innings and 220 batters faced. Downs was originally selected by the Chicago Cubs in the third round of the 1997 draft. He was acquired by the Expos from the Cubs in exchange for outfielder Rondell White on July 31, 2000. Downs missed the entire 2001 season after undergoing "Tommy John" surgery on his left elbow. He split the 2002 season between Single-A Brevard County, where he was 0-0, 3.00 (9.0 IP - 3 ER) with one save in seven appearances, and Triple-A Ottawa, where he was 2-1, 5.79 (23.1 IP - 15 ER) in 17 appearances. Downs owns a career minor league record of 33-22, 3.29 (519.1 IP - 190 ER) in 107 appearances (79 starts).

Rodriguez, 28, was 0-1, 5.32 (23.2 IP - 14 ER) with one save in 13 appearances with the Trappers. He began the season with Triple-A Rochester and went 0-0, 5.87 (7.2 IP - 5 ER) in six appearances with the Red Wings before being released on April 23. The Montreal Expos signed Rodriguez as a free agent on June 17 and assigned him to Brevard County. He was placed on the disabled list, June 18, while recovering from surgery on his left elbow and was activated on June 29. Rodriguez was 0-0, 0.00 (1.0 IP - 0 ER) with one save in one appearance with Brevard County. He was placed on the temporary inactive list on July 3, while attending a funeral and was transferred to Edmonton on July 7. The Santurce, Puerto Rico native split the 2002 season between four clubs. He was 2-1, 2.66 (23.2 IP - 7 ER) with three saves in 26 appearances with Triple-A Memphis; 0-0, 54.00 (0.1 IP - 2 ER) in two appearances with the St. Louis Cardinals; 0-1, 14.73 (3.2 IP - 6 ER) in four appearances with the Minnesota Twins and appeared in four games with the Trappers, going 0-0, 0.00 (5.2 IP - 0 ER) with one save. Rodriguez was originally selected out of Florida International University by the Cardinals in the 24th round of the 1997 draft.

The next Trapper home game will be on Friday, August 29, when the club will take on the Portland Beavers. The game will begin at 7:05 PM. Tickets for all regular season home games are on sale and can be purchased through Ticketmaster at 451-8000. For more information call 414-4450.



Pacific Coast League Stories from August 21, 2003


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