Sledge Hammers Zephyrs
May 31, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
Center fielder Terrmel Sledge was 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI as the Edmonton Trappers crushed the East Division leading New Orleans Zephyrs 8-2 Friday night at TELUS Field. The win salvages a split of the four-game series between the two clubs, the only time they will meet this season. The big night extends Sledge's hitting streak to 14 games, the longest such streak by an Edmonton player this season. Edmonton has had trouble with the Zephyrs since New Orleans joined the PCL in 1998. The win improves the Trappers all-time record against the Zephyrs to 14-26. Edmonton continues to play well at home this season, improving to 14-10 with the victory. The Trappers starting rotation had been struggling coming into Friday night's game having lost seven consecutive decisions, but Hansel Izquierdo (1-0) allowed only two runs in 7.0 innings to pick up his first win in his first start. The Trappers will continue this eight-game homestand on Saturday night against the Memphis Redbirds, who currently have the worst record in the Pacific Coast League.
Edmonton opened the scoring with a single run against New Orleans starter Rodrigo Rosario (5-5), the PCL Pitcher of the Week for the period ending last Sunday. Anthony Medrano doubled with one out and scored on a single by Sledge. The Trappers opened things up in the bottom of the second inning with six runs off Rosario. Valentino Pascucci drew a walk to start the inning. Matt Cepicky followed with a single and Randy Knorr cashed in both runners with his first triple of the year. Luis Figueroa singled to right field, plating Knorr with the third run of the frame. Anthony Medrano reached on an infield single and Sledge followed with his eighth home run of the season, a three-run shot that gave the Trappers a 7-0 lead. New Orleans avoided the shutout with two runs in the top of the third. Eric Bruntlett drew a walk to start the frame and scored on a double by Dave Matranga. Matranga moved to third on a single by Henri Stanley and scored when John Buck grounded into a double play.
Edmonton picked up their eighth run of the game in the fourth inning. Luis Figueroa led off with a double to right-center, moved to third on a ground out by Sledge and scored on a wild pitch by Rosario. Izquierdo took over from there, shutting the Zephyrs out over his final four innings of work. New Orleans threatened in the fourth inning getting the first two runners aboard, but Izquierdo struck out Kyle Logan and Rosario and then got Bruntlett to fly out to end the inning. The Zephyrs ran themselves out of a possible big inning in the fifth when Stanley was tossed out after overrunning third base. The Trapper right-hander retired the final seven batters he faced before turning the game over to Jose Colon and Julio Manon, who each tossed scoreless innings in relief. The New Orleans bullpen also did a fine job in relief of Rosario. Bob Scanlan tossed 2.1 shutout innings and Ken Vining closed things out with two perfect frames.
Highlights:
Trappers: Are 14-10 at TELUS Field this season.are 10-2 when scoring the first run at TELUS Field.are 12-20 against teams that currently have above .500 records.staff has yielded only 32 longballs all season.season series ends in a tie, 2-2.New Orleans leads the All-Time series between the two clubs, 26-14.Edmonton has never won the season series from New Orleans.
CF Terrmel Sledge: Was 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI to extend his hitting streak to 14 games.owns the longest streak by a Trapper hitter this season.is 24-for-52 (.462) with 13 runs scored, two home runs and 11 RBI in that span.
RHP Hansel Izquierdo: Yielded only two runs on seven hits and two walks, while fanning seven in 7.0 innings of work.was his first start with Edmonton after making three relief appearances.
Alumni Report:
DH Jason Giambi (NYY) @ DET: Hit a two-run home run off Gary Knotts in the first inning and a solo shot off Steve Sparks in the eighth as the Yankees shutout the Tigers 6-0 behind the stellar pitching of Jose Contreras.has 11 home runs and 34 RBI.
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 31, 2003
- Another Thriller at Telus Field - Edmonton Trappers
- Cubs Edge Zephyrs, 2-1 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Royals Pound Sounds, 9-3, in Series Opener - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Trappers Beat Zephyrs, 8-2 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Z's go 4-4 on road trip and begin four game home stand against Iowa on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Sledge Hammers Zephyrs - Edmonton Trappers
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