Stein Stellar as Trappers Blank Rainiers
July 30, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
Right-hander Blake Stein (2-1) allowed only three hits in 8.0 shutout innings as the Edmonton Trappers snapped a five-game losing streak with a 3-0 victory over the Tacoma Rainiers Tuesday night at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma. Stein has bounced back and forth between the bullpen and the rotation since first joining the Trappers as a free agent in early June. He earned the save in his last two outings and has now gone 14.0 innings without allowing an earned run. Tuesday night's start was only his third with Edmonton. In his first start with the club on July 10 Stein tossed a complete game, allowing only one run, in a victory against the Fresno Grizzlies. The losing streak was the second longest of the season for Edmonton, who saw their lead in the North Division shrink to one game going into action on Tuesday night. The Trappers victory over the Rainiers, coupled with losses by both Portland and Salt Lake means that the club now leads the division by two games over Portland and 2 ½ games over Salt Lake. The game was the first of 26 that Trappers will play down the stretch against North Division opponents. Edmonton and Tacoma will continue this four-game set on Wednesday night at Cheney Stadium. The Trappers will return home on Saturday night to begin a four-game series against the Oklahoma RedHawks.
The Rainiers entered play on Tuesday night in last place in the North Division with a 47-63 record. They had won five of their past eight games, despite only scoring 28 runs in that span. Tacoma was also the second lowest scoring team in the PCL, averaging just over four runs per game. The Trappers, on the other hand, began play with the highest team ERA in the Pacific Coast League at 5.12. Edmonton's bats had been silent during the losing streak, scoring only six runs in the five contests. With that in mind it wasn't surprising to see Stein and Tacoma right-hander Jeff Heaverlo (4-9) locked in a scoreless battle through six innings. First baseman Ryan Balfe opened the scoring with a solo home run off Heaverlo in the top of the seventh inning. Third baseman Scott Hodges gave the Trappers a two-run lead later in the inning with a sacrifice fly that plated Valentino Pascucci and catcher Randy Knorr capped the scoring with a RBI single that scored Matt Cepicky.
All three hits that Stein allowed were singles, with all of those base hits coming in the first four frames. He retired the final 14 batters that he faced en route to the win. Right-hander Tim Drew made his return to the Trapper roster on Tuesday night after being assigned outright from the Montreal Expos on the weekend. He walked Chris Snelling in an otherwise perfect ninth inning to earn his first save of the season. Drew had made 15 starts without appearing in relief for the Trappers before he was selected off the Trapper roster by Montreal at the end of June. The victory was the third straight for the Trappers over the Rainiers. Edmonton leads the season series six games to three. The Trappers have not allowed Tacoma to score a single run in the last two meetings between the two squads.
Highlights:
Trappers: Are 25-27 on the road...lead the North Division by two games over the Portland Beavers and 2 ½ games over the Salt Lake Stingers...have a 16-13 record in July...are 14-9 vs. the North Division...26 of the final 34 games are against North Division teams...are 17-15 when playing American League affiliat es...was the Trappers sixth shutout of the season...was the third time the club has shutout Tacoma...Edmonton leads the season series, 6-3...Tacoma leads the all-time series, 207-176.
RHP Blake Stein: Tossed 8.0 shutout innings, allowing only three hits and one walk, while fanning four...has not allowed an earned run in his last 14.0 innings, covering four appearances...earned the save in his previous two appearances...lowered ERA to 4.46.
Alumni Report:
3B Tony Batista (BAL) @ MIN: Hit a solo home run off another former Trapper, left-hander Johan Santana, in the fourth inning as the Orioles downed the Twins 7-5 at the Metrodome...was 2-for-4...has 69 RBI...O's are 47-17 vs. the Twins since 1996.
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 30, 2003
- Memphis Rallies, Beats Winders Again - Tucson Sidewinders
- 1,000+ Scouts To Spend Night At The Ballpark Saturday - Nashville Sounds
- Butler Leads Sky Sox over Zephyrs, 9-4 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Young shuts down Zephyrs in 9-4 victory - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Stein Stellar as Trappers Blank Rainiers - Edmonton Trappers
- Beavers' Loss Ends Three-Game Winning Streak - Portland Beavers
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