Sledge Extends Hit Streak to 19 Games, but Trappers Fall

June 6, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release


Center fielder Terrmel Sledge homered and scored two runs in a losing cause as the Omaha Royals edged the Edmonton Trappers 8-7 Friday night at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha. The home run, which came with one out in the ninth inning, extended Sledge's hitting streak to 19 games, the second longest streak in the Pacific Coast League this season. The win by the Royals, which was the second one-run contest in as many nights between the two clubs, evens the series at one game apiece. Edmonton is now 7-8 in one run games and is 11-19 on the road. Rosenblatt Stadium continues to be unkind to the Trappers, who dropped their all-time record at the ballpark to 5-12 with the loss. Edmonton entered the game on a roll offensively and that continued on Friday night. The club began the night with a league-leading team batting average of .298. The Trappers had 10 hits in the game, the eighth consecutive games in which the club has picked up 10 or more hits. They have scored 46 runs in those eight contests. Edmonton and Omaha continue this four-game series on Saturday night at Rosenblatt Stadium.

Omaha first baseman Morgan Burkhart opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run off Edmonton starter Tim Drew (1-7). It was the 11th longball of the season for Burkhart. The Trappers took a brief lead in the fourth inning with two runs off Omaha starter Scott Mullen (3-3). First baseman Joe Vitiello opened the inning with a double down the right field line. Designated hitter Luis Ortiz then reached on an error by center fielder Alexis Gomez, which also allowed Vitiello to advance to third. An RBI single by Valentino Pascucci and a sacrifice fly by Randy Knorr plated the two runners as Edmonton took their only lead of the contest. The Royals came right back with three runs off Drew in the fourth inning. Benny Agbayani was hit by a pitch, Sandy Martinez singled and Juan Brito doubled with two out, plating both baserunners. Julius Matos capped the inning with a single up the middle that scored Brito.

The Trappers crept to within one run of the lead in the fifth inning as Sledge walked with one out, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Ortiz. Agbayani answered for Omaha in the bottom of the frame with his seventh home run of the season and second in as many nights. Blake Stein took over for Drew in the sixth inning, but yielded two runs in the frame to give the Royals a 7-3 lead. Matos drove home Jed Hansen with a double and later scored on an error by Sledge. Edmonton mounted a rally in the eighth inning as Pascucci doubled scoring Vitiello and Ortiz and then later scored as Knorr grounded into a fielder's choice. An RBI single by right fielder Mike Kelly in the bottom of the eighth inning gave the Royals a two-run advantage, which Sledge cut in half with his second homer in as many days in the ninth. Pascucci struck out to end the game with the tying run at second base in the person of pinch-runner Peter Bergeron. Nathan Field earned his second save of the season for Omaha.

Highlights:

Trappers: Are 11-19 on the road...are 7-8 in one-run games...committed two errors after going a season-high five consecutive games without a miscue...are 19-10 when collecting 10 or more hits, but are only 8-7 on the road... are now 5-12 All-Time at Rosenblatt Stadium...are 2-11 when the opponent scores the first run on the road...staff has yielded only 39 longballs all season...the season series is tied, 1-1...Omaha leads the All-Time series between the two clubs, 22-14.

RF Terrmel Sledge: Was 1-for-4 with two runs scored, a home run, an RBI and a walk to extend his hitting streak to 19 games, the longest current streak in the PCL...is 30-for-71 (.423) with 19 runs scored, four home runs and 15 RBI in that span...has homered in back-to-back games...leads the Trappers with 10 longballs.

Alumni Report:

CF Jeff DaVanon (ANA) @ FLA: Had two hits, scored a run and stole a base in a losing effort as the Angels fell 4-1 to the Marlins...had hit two home runs in each of his pervious three games...is batting .462 (30-for-65) since May 15 and .374 overall.



Pacific Coast League Stories from June 6, 2003


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