Trappers outlast 51s for another win
June 13, 2004 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
First baseman Valentino Pascucci was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, a double, a home run and four RBI as the Edmonton Trappers downed the Las Vegas 51s 7-5 Saturday night at TELUS Field. Pascucci, the Trappers Player of the Month in April when he set a club record with 14 total bases in one game, has 33 RBI in only 33 Pacific Coast League games this season. He was recalled by the Montreal Expos in late April after being named the PCL Batter of the Week and returned to Edmonton two weeks ago. Pascucci has already clubbed nine home runs in a Trapper uniform this season, second on the club to outfielder Ryan Church. He also has the last four Edmonton home runs, dating back to June 4. Edmonton has a league-low 35 home runs and has gone deep just seven times in 22 games at TELUS Field. Amazingly one night after Scott Downs no-hit the 51s right-hander Josh Karp (3-5) held Las Vegas hitless for the first 4.1 innings. The Trappers and 51s will conclude this four-game set with an afternoon tilt on Sunday. Edmonton will begin a series against the Tucson Sidewinders on Monday night at TELUS Field.
Two of the best pitching prospects in the Montreal Expos and Los Angeles Dodgers took the mound Saturday night in what was billed as a potential pitcher's duel. Karp was looking for his third win of the season and was opposed by fellow righty Edwin Jackson, who entered the campaign ranked by Baseball America as the best prospect in the Dodgers' farm system. The Trappers opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning with four runs off Jackson. Center fielder Brandon Watson led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second on a base hit by shortstop Anthony Medrano. Left fielder Ron Calloway drew a walk to load the bases for first baseman Pascucci, who doubled to center field, clearing the bases and giving the Trappers a three-run lead in the process. Church then blooped a double down the left field line, plating Pascucci from second base with Edmonton's fourth run. They tacked on a fifth run in the fourth inning off Jackson. Third baseman Paul Hoover drew a walk to open the frame, stole second and third base and scored on a double to right field by catcher Jason Brown.
Karp turned in one of his best outings of the season Saturday, retiring the first 12 batters that he faced before walking Chin-Feng Chen to lead off the fifth inning. With one out he surrendered a double to the gap in left-center field that broke up the no-hitter and scored Chen from first base. Pascucci restored the Trappers five-run lead with a monstrous solo home run off left-hander Troy Brohawn in the bottom of the fifth. Las Vegas closed the gap to three runs in the seventh inning when Chen reached on an error by Hoover and scored on a home run by Luis Garcia that hit the scoreboard in left field. Edmonton got one of those runs back in the bottom of the seventh as Medrano led off with a single and eventually scored when second baseman Brian Harris bounced into a fielder's choice. Las Vegas pinch-hitter Jose Flores led off the eighth inning with a double off Karp, who then exited the game in favour of Roy Corcoran. Jason Repko drew a walk to put runners at first and second for Antonio Perez, who laced a two-run double down the left field line to close the deficit to two runs. Right-hander Jason Childers, the Trappers new closer, retired the side in order in the ninth inning to record his first PCL save of the season. Childers was tied for the International League lead in saves with 15 when he was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers earlier in the week.
Pacific Coast League Stories from June 13, 2004
- Sounds Whip Isotopes To Close Road Trip - Nashville Sounds
- Royals Rally To Sweep RedBirds - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Johnson Tosses Gem As Trappers Beat 51s, 5-3 - Edmonton Trappers
- Sox Split Pair In New Orleans - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Bozied, Furmaniak power Beavers to 12-7 win over Grizzlies - Portland Beavers
- Back-To-Back Jacks for Tacoma Defeats Tucson - Tucson Sidewinders
- Dillon leads Topes to 4-3 win - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Trappers outlast 51s for another win - Edmonton Trappers
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