T.J. Tuckers Out Grizzlies
July 12, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
Right-hander T.J. Tucker (1-0) tossed 6.0 shutout innings to lead the Edmonton Trappers to a 3-2 victory over the Fresno Grizzlies Saturday night at TELUS Field. Tucker was making his first start of the season for the Trappers after being demoted from the Montreal Expos on July 10. He yielded only three hits, all singles, walked two and struck out one to earn the victory. Tucker had spent most of the season in the Expos bullpen, where he made 32 appearances. The right-hander helped Edmonton continue their season-long domination of the Grizzlies, who have now won only three times in 15 tries against the Trappers in 2003. The first-place Trappers are going into the All-Star break, which begins on Monday, on a roll. The club has won 18 of their last 28 games and are now a season-high three games over .500. The Trappers have not lost back-to-back games since mid-June and are now 28-19 at TELUS Field. Edmonton and Fresno conclude this five-game series on Sunday afternoon at TELUS Field. The Trappers are guaranteed to own at least a share of first place entering the break.
Ironically the Grizzlies also started a Major League veteran who is trying to work his way back to the big leagues on Saturday night. Right-hander Dustin Hermanson (0-1), the former Expo, took the hill for Fresno and retired nine of the first 11 batters he faced. He managed to keep Edmonton off the board through the first three innings. Tucker had his only shaky inning in the second when he yielded a walk and two singles, but the Trapper defense, which had a stellar night making several outstanding plays, turned a double play behind him to help the righty get out of the jam. The Trappers broke the scoreless tie with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Left fielder Terrmel Sledge drew a walk to start the inning and advanced to second on a base hit by first baseman Ryan Balfe. Sledge and Balfe moved up on a wild pitch by Hermanson and Scott Hodges delivered a one-out RBI single that plated Sledge with the first run of the contest. Randy Knorr followed with a sacrifice fly to deep center field, scoring Balfe with the second Edmonton run.
Hermanson left after the fifth inning and turned the ball over to former Trapper Steve Connelly, who allowed one run in the sixth. With one out in the frame Valentino Pascucci drilled a double down the left field line. He advanced to third on a long fly ball by Hodges and scored on a base hit to center by Knorr. Hansel Izquierdo took over for Tucker in the seventh inning and allowed a one-out single to Carlos Valderrama followed by a double by Rob Ryan down the right field line. Izquierdo struck out Craig Kuzmic, but then surrendered a base hit to Jay Pecci that plated Valderrama and Ryan to make it a one-run game. He also yielded walk and a single in the eighth inning, but managed to get Francisco Santos to ground out to get out of the jam. Chuck Crumpton took over for Izquierdo in the ninth inning and walked Ryan with one down in the frame. However, the next batter, Kuzmic, hit a sharp ground ball right back to the pitcher, who tossed to shortstop Anthony Medrano for one out at second. Medrano completed the game-ending double play with a throw to Balfe at first base. It was the second save of the campaign for Crumpton.
Highlights:
Trappers: Are 28-19 at TELUS Field.are three games over .500 for the second time this season.are only two games behind the pace set by last year's Championship squad, which was 50-43 after 93 games.are 18-10 in the last 28 games.are 22-22 vs. the South Division.Saturday's game was the fourth of 20 consecutive games vs. the South.have 944 hits in 93 games, putting the club on pace for 1452 hits.the club record is 1459.Edmonton leads the season series, 12-3.Edmonton leads the all-time series, 34-29.
RHP T.J. Tucker: Tossed 6.0 shutout innings in his first start after being demoted from Montreal.threw only 56 pitches, 38 for strikes.surrendered three hits and two walks, while fanning one.made only one start in 33 appearances with the Expos.
Alumni Report:
LHP Jarrod Washburn (ANA) vs. MIN: Tossed 7.0 solid innings as the Angels downed the Twins 6-1 for their 11th win in their last 15 games.allowed one run on three hits and one walk, while fanning five .is 8-9 with a 4.22 ERA for the World Champs.
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 12, 2003
- T.J. Tuckers Out Grizzlies - Edmonton Trappers
- Kent electrifies Dell Diamond, leads Express to win - Round Rock Express
- River Cats Nip Zephyrs, 3-2 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Sidewinders Can't Figure Out Figueroa In 6-1 Nashville Win - Nashville Sounds
- Figueroa Beats Former Team - Tucson Sidewinders
- Matt Cepicky Recalled, Seung Song Placed on Temporary Inactive List - Edmonton Trappers
- Trappers and Grizzlies Split Double Dip - Edmonton Trappers
- Beavers Shut Out by Rainiers - Portland Beavers
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