Trappers Bash Portland Pitching for Season-High 18 Runs
Published on August 21, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
First baseman Valentino Pascucci and catcher Randy Knorr each drove in four runs to lead the Edmonton Trappers to an 18-8 thrashing of the Portland Beavers Wednesday night at PGE Park in Portland. The 18-run explosion was the highest offensive output of the season for the Trappers, who remain ½ game behind the Salt Lake Stingers in the battle for first place in the North Division. Portland is now 4 ½ games behind the Stingers, who downed Tacoma 3-2 on Wednesday night for their fourth consecutive win. Every member of the starting line-up scored at least one run with second baseman Luis Figueroa leading the way with four. The Trappers had 14 hits in the contest and drew seven walks off Portland pitching. Edmonton has won seven of the nine games it has played against Portland this season and has outscored the Beavers 64-32 in the process. The Trappers and Beavers continue this four-game series on Thursday night at PGE Park. The game can be heard on Cool 880 beginning at 8:05 PM.
Right-hander Sun Woo Kim (9-7), the Trappers' starting pitcher on Wednesday night, didn't get off to the start he had hoped yielding a two-run home run to Canadian-born center fielder Jason Bay in the first inning. The Trappers extinguished Portland's early lead with seven runs in the second inning off starter Carlton Loewer (7-6). Left fielder Matt Cepicky singled to open the inning and advanced to third on a single by Scott Hodges. Knorr drew a walk to load the bases for Anthony Medrano, who was hit by a pitch, forcing home Cepicky with the Trappers first run. Kim then singled up the middle, plating Hodges and Knorr and advancing Medrano to third. The South Korean-born hurler now has seven RBI this season. Figueroa singled with one out in the inning, scoring Medrano and moving Kim to third. Kim scored on a throwing error by catcher Yamid Haad and Pascucci followed with his 15th longball of the campaign, a two-run shot that also scored Figueroa.
Peter Bergeron started a five-run rally for the Trappers in the fourth inning with a single and Figueroa followed with a walk. Terrmel Sledge knocked home Bergeron with a single, Pascucci drove in Figueroa with a base hit and Cepicky singled, scoring Sledge. Knorr doubled with two out in the inning, scoring Cepicky and Pascucci to give Edmonton a 12-2 lead. Another five-run rally followed in the fifth inning as the Trappers upped their advantage to 17-2. Bergeron drew a walk, Figueroa singled and Sledge walked to load the bases. Pascucci drew a free pass, forcing home Bergeron. With one down Hodges doubled, plating Figueroa and Sledge and Knorr followed with his second two-bagger of the game, scoring Hodges and Pascucci. Haad singled with one out in the Portland half of the eighth inning and Donaldo Mendez followed with his fifth homer of the season to make the score 17-4. Figueroa hit his second dinger of the season in the top of the ninth to cap the scoring for the Trappers. Rico Washington hit a three-run homer off Kim in the bottom of the ninth and Bobby Scales drew a bases loaded walk to force home Xavier Nady with the game's final tally.
Highlights:
Trappers: Are 30-35 on the road...set a season-high with 18 runs scored...every starting player scored at least one run...are 10-9 on the road since the All-Star break...are 16-20 since the All-Star break...are 27-36 in games decided by more than three runs...trail the North Division-leading Salt Lake Stingers by ½ game...the Beavers are in third place, four games behind the Trappers...are 21-15 vs. the North...Edmonton leads the season series, 7-2...Edmonton leads the all-time series, 27-14.
2B Luis Figueroa: Was 3-for-5 with four runs scored and two RBI...tied a Trapper season-high for runs scored in one game...hit his second home run of the season...both homers have been hit at PGE Park...also stole a base...has 135 hits, a career-high.
Alumni Report:
3B Eric Chavez (OAK) @ BOS: Singled and scored to lead off a four-run eighth inning as the A's overcame a 6-4 deficit to down the Red Sox 8-6...Oakland is now two games ahead of Boston in the wild card race...also had an RBI double in the fifth inning.
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 21, 2003
- Sounds Bullpen Implodes In 9-2 Defeat - Nashville Sounds
- Scott Downs Optioned to Edmonton - Edmonton Trappers
- Beavers Host School Supply Drive - Portland Beavers
- Sox winning streak is snapped - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Astros Purchase Chavez Contract - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Sounds Host "Bye Bye" Balboni Bobblehead Night On Friday - Nashville Sounds
- Redbirds Hold on to Down Zephyrs, 6-4 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Trappers Bash Portland Pitching for Season-High 18 Runs - Edmonton Trappers
- Drillers' rally gets Express late - Round Rock Express
- River Cats Clinch PCL South Division With Win - Sacramento River Cats
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