Trappers Beat New Orleans in Dramatic Fashion

May 29, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release


Second baseman Edwards Guzman singled with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, plating Scott Hodges with the winning run as the Edmonton Trappers downed the East Division leading New Orleans Zephyrs 6-5 Wednesday night at TELUS Field. The win ends a season-high six-game losing streak for the Trappers, who are now 6-6 in one-run games. It is the fifth time this season that the Trappers have won a game in their final at-bat. Guzman has had a flair for the dramatic so far in 2003. His walk-off home run against the Sacramento River Cats on April 14 gave the Trappers a 6-5 victory that day. The Trappers, who entered the night only four games out of first place in the North Division despite the losing streak, are now 6-0 at TELUS Field when the opponent starts a left-handed pitcher. Edmonton and New Orleans continue this four-game series on Thursday night at TELUS Field.

Edmonton plated a run in the bottom of the first inning off left-hander Greg Miller, who was making his Triple-A debut on Wednesday night. Shortstop Luis Figueroa led off the inning with a double to left field. He advanced to second on a fly ball and scored on a sacrifice fly by Terrmel Sledge. The Trappers loaded the bases with two out in the inning, but could not push another run across. New Orleans tied the game in the top of the third inning with a single run off Edmonton's starter Sun Woo Kim. Colin Porter drew a walk to start the inning and scored on a two-out double by Dave Matranga. Edmonton regained the lead with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Sledge got things started with a one-out single. He moved to second on a single by Luis Ortiz and both runners advanced on an infield single by Guzman. Valentino Pascucci put the Trappers in front with sacrifice fly that scored Sledge from third. Matt Cepicky then hit a ground ball to first base that Alan Zinter first booted then threw away allowing Ortiz and Guzman to score.

New Orleans narrowed the lead to one run with two in the fourth. Royce Huffman drew a walk with one out in the frame and moved to second on a two-out walk by Zinter. Porter then singled through the left side of the infield, scoring Huffman from second and Zinter later scored on a single up the middle by Miller. The Zephyrs tied the game in the sixth inning with a single run off Kim. With two down and runners at second and third Eric Bruntlett plated Porter with a sacrifice fly. Porter had earlier reached on an infield single. They took a brief lead in the top of the seventh inning with a run off reliever Jose Colon, who was making his first appearance at TELUS Field this season. Henri Stanley greeted Colon with a double down the right field line. With two out in the inning Raul Chavez doubled to the gap in the left-center, scoring Stanley easily from second. Edmonton fought right back in the bottom of the inning and tied the game with a run off reliever Bob Scanlan. Sledge led off the inning with a single, stole second and scored on a single to right field by Guzman. Hodges started the ninth inning with a double and moved to third on a ground out by Sledge.

Highlights:

Trappers: Are 13-9 at TELUS Field this season.are 6-6 in one-run games.have won five games in their last at-bat.ended a six-game losing streak, a season-high, with the win.are 11-19 against teams that currently have above .500 records.staff has yielded only 30 longballs all season.the season series is tied, 1-1.New Orleans leads the All-Time series between the two clubs, 25-13.Edmonton has never won the season series from New Orleans. 2B Edwards Guzman: Was 4-for-5 with a run scored and two RBI.drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning.has hit safely in eight of his last nine games (14-for-36; .389-0-3).

RF Terrmel Sledge: Was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI to extend his hitting streak to 12 games.now owns the longest streak by a Trapper hitter this season.is 21-for-46 (.457) with one home run and seven RBI in that span.

Alumni Report:

RHP Jason Simontacchi (STL) vs. HOU: Tossed the first complete game of his career as the Cardinals downed the Astros 3-1.yielded one run on six hits.struck out five batters.only run allowed was a home run to Lance Berkman in the fourth inning.



Pacific Coast League Stories from May 29, 2003


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