Trappers Drop Another Close One in Iowa
Published on June 11, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
Right-hander Alan Benes (2-0) allowed only one run on seven hits and two walks, while fanning eight in 6.2 innings as the Iowa Cubs edged the Edmonton Trappers 4-2 Tuesday night at Sec Taylor Stadium in Des Moines. It was the second consecutive hard fought victory for the Cubs, who downed the Trappers 4-3 in the series-opener on Monday night. The Trappers are now 7-12 on the road in games decided by two runs or less and have made a habit of playing games that go down to the wire on this road trip. Edmonton is 3-3 on the trip with five of the six games being decided by two runs or less. The Trappers overall record on the road drops to 13-21 with the loss. Edmonton came into this series against the Cubs, the last place team in the Central Division, with a 17-10 record against clubs with losing record. The Trappers and Cubs continue this four-game series on Wednesday night at Sec Taylor Stadium. Edmonton will return home on Friday night to begin an eight-game homestand against the Sacramento River Cats.
Edmonton has struggled on the road this season after falling behind early. The club is now 2-13 on the road in those contests after Iowa opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning of Tuesday's game. Center fielder Nic Jackson singled with two out in the inning and then moved to second on a base hit by catcher Keith McDonald. Shortstop Nate Frese then singled to center field, plating Jackson with the first run of the game. Edmonton third baseman Scott Hodges tied the contest in the top of the third inning when he led off with his third home run of the season. It was his first home run since May 13. Trappers' left-hander Eric Knott (2-5) pitched solidly for most of the night, but Iowa left fielder Midre Cummings got to him in the fourth inning for a leadoff blast that put the Cubs in front for good. It was the fifth home run of the season for the veteran outfielder.
Jackson started another rally for the Cubs in the sixth inning when he singled with one out and then stole second with two down in the frame. Frese put Iowa in front by two runs with a single to right field that scored Jackson with the Cubs third run. Edmonton managed to knock Benes out of the game in the seventh inning, but could not mount a rally against relievers Frenc Jongejan and Dave Veres. In the bottom of the seventh first baseman Phil Hiatt gave the Cubs a three-run lead with a solo home run off Edmonton reliever Blake Stein. It was the 11th home run of the season for Hiatt. The Trappers, who scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning on Monday night only to come up one run short, mounted another final inning comeback on Tuesday night, but once again it fell short. With two down in the inning catcher Randy Knorr took reliever Mike Wuertz deep over the fence in left field for his fifth longball of the season. Hodges, who had three hits in the contest, then doubled to left field. Jake Thrower, who was promoted to Edmonton from Double-A Harrisburg earlier in the day, pinch-hit for Stein and Iowa brought in lefty Phil Norton for the crucial at-bat. Hodges advanced to third on a wild pitch, but Norton struck out Thrower to end the game and record his first save of the campaign.
Highlights:
Trappers: Are 13-21 on the road.are 3-3 on this road trip.are 7-12 in road games decided by two runs or less.are 7-21 when the opposition scores the first run, including a 2-13 mark on the road.staff has yielded 44 longballs all season.Iowa leads the season series, 2-0.the All-Time series between the two clubs is tied, 19-19.
3B Scott Hodges: Was 3-for-4 with a run scored, a double, a home run and an RBI.home run was his third of the season and first since May 13.is 5-for-8 (.625) in the first two games of this series and 7-for-14 (.500) in his last four games.
Alumni Report:
DH Matt Stairs (PIT) @ TOR: Hit his second home run of the season, a solo shot off Cory Lidle in the sixth inning, but the Pirates still fell in a slugfest, 13-8 to the Blue Jays.had two hits in the contest and scored two runs for the Pirates, who are now 25-36.
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