Trappers Come Back for Dramatic Win over Las Vegas
June 19, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
Matt Cepicky's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Joe Vitiello from second base with the winning run as the Edmonton Trappers came back to down the Las Vegas 51s 4-2 Thursday afternoon at TELUS Field. The win was the Trappers second in a row over the 51s, who entered the day with the second best record in the Pacific Coast League, and their fourth in the last five games. It was the eighth time this season that the Trappers have won a game in their final at-bat, but it was only the second time that they have come back after being down after seven innings to record the victory. The club has excelled in day games at home and is now 8-4 in those contests. Edmonton began the day only 2 ½ games behind the first-place Portland Beavers in the North Division of the PCL. The Trappers and 51s conclude this four-game series on Friday afternoon at TELUS Field.
The Trappers opened the scoring for the first time in seven games on this homestand with a run in the bottom of the third inning. Edmonton starter Britt Reames singled into right-center to open the frame and advanced to second on a base hit to left-center by Luis Figueroa. Anthony Medrano followed with a single to left field that plated Reames from second with the first run of the game. The lead did not last long as Las Vegas plated two runs in the top of the fourth to go up 2-1. With one out Bubba Crosby reached on an infield single and moved to second on a base hit by Larry Barnes. Chin-Feng Chen has a been a thorn in the Trappers side throughout this series and that continued on Thursday afternoon as the left fielder smashed a double into the gap in right center that plated Crosby and Barnes to put the 51s in front. Reames exited the game after the fourth inning and turned the ball over to reliever Chuck Crumpton, who tossed 3.0 scoreless innings. He yielded only one hit and one walk, while fanning one.
Las Vegas starter Victor Alvarez left after only 4.1 innings because of an injury. He allowed one run on five hits and one walk, while fanning two. The 51s bullpen shut the Trappers down in the middle innings and former Edmonton reliever David Lee (2-1) took over in the bottom of the eighth inning with the 51s still clinging to a 2-1 lead. Terrmel Sledge led off with a double to center field and scored on a double by Vitiello that tied the game. Cepicky's single put Edmonton in front and he advanced to second on a throwing error by right fielder Calvin Murray. Scott Hodges was intentionally walked and Scott Sandusky singled to load the bases for Jake Thrower, who plated Cepicky with a sacrifice fly. Bryan Hebson recorded the win for the Trappers on Thursday afternoon, running his record at home to 5-0 and his overall record to 6-0. Ironically Lee took the loss for the 51s, his first of the season. He is the only member of the Trappers 2002 PCL Championship squad to make an appearance at TELUS Field this season. Lee went 9-1 last season with the Trappers, including a 7-0 mark at TELUS Field. Highlights:
Trappers: Are 20-14 at home...are 9-0 when the opponent starts a left-hander at TELUS Field...are 8-4 in day games at TELUS Field...are 12-3 at home when scoring the first run...visiting club scored the first run in the first six games on this homestand...are 4-3 on an eight-game homestand that will see the top two clubs in the PCL visit TELUS Field...are 16-23 against clubs with winning records... Las Vegas leads the season series, 7-4...Edmonton leads the All-Time series between the two clubs, 143-138.
SS Anthony Medrano: RBI single in the third inning extended his streak of reaching base via hit or a walk to 38 games...has reached base in every game he has played in since May 1...has scored 24 runs in 38 games...it is the longest streak in the minors this season.
CF Terrmel Sledge: Doubled and scored the tying run in the eighth inning...has hit safely in 27 of his last 28 games, going 44-for-108 (.407) with five home runs and 19 RBI in that span...has scored 27 runs in those 28 games...is batting .342 overall.
Alumni Report:
3B Casey Blake (CLE) @ DET: Hit his sixth home run, a solo shot off Nate Cornejo in the fifth inning, as the Indians downed the Tigers 10-3 at Comerica Park...was 3-for-5 in the game...scored three times and hit his 13th double of the season...has 19 RBI.
Pacific Coast League Stories from June 19, 2003
- Sidewinders Comeback Falls Short - Tucson Sidewinders
- Sounds Sweep Cubs In Doubleheader - Nashville Sounds
- Beavers Conducting Kids Camp Through Saturday - Portland Beavers
- Trappers Come Back for Dramatic Win over Las Vegas - Edmonton Trappers
- Express make more roster moves - Round Rock Express
- Express Starts Second Half - Round Rock Express
- Zephyrs Baseball Camp to be Held June 28 and 29 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Z's Rally with Three in the Ninth and Defeat Beavers, 5-4 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- 6th Inning Kills Sox - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Zephyrs Pull a Fast One on Beavers - Portland Beavers
- Trappers Outlast 51s in Slugfest - Edmonton Trappers
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