Trappers Outlast 51s in Slugfest
June 19, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
Center fielder Terrmel Sledge was 3-for-4 with two runs scored as the Edmonton Trappers outlasted the Las Vegas 51s Wednesday night at TELUS Field. While Sledge was one of several offensive heroes for the Trappers on Wednesday night there was no doubt who the hero was in the field. Right fielder Valentino Pascucci made two outstanding throws, gunning down a runner at third base in the seventh inning and another at second in the eighth to help preserve the lead. The win evens the Trappers record at 3-3 on this homestand and lifts their overall record at TELUS Field to 19-14. Edmonton is now 9-9 in one-run games. Las Vegas has won seven of the 10 games played between the two clubs this season with seven of those games being decided by two runs or less. Edmonton and Las Vegas continue this four-game series on Thursday afternoon at TELUS Field.
The 51s opened the scoring on Wednesday night, the sixth consecutive game in which the opponent has plated the first run. With two out in the top of the first inning right fielder Chad Hermansen doubled to deep center field. First baseman Larry Barnes then dropped a double in front of a diving Matt Cepicky in left field to put the 51s up by a run. Edmonton came right back with a run of their own in the bottom of the first. Second baseman Luis Figueroa started the inning with a single to left field. Anthony Medrano followed with a walk and Sledge singled to load the bases for Joe Vitiello, who lofted a sacrifice fly into center field that plated Figueroa with the first run. Figueroa got things started in the bottom of the third as well as the Trappers plated five runs and sent 11 batters to the plate. He tripled to open the inning. Medrano reached on a fielder's choice and Sledge was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Las Vegas starter Lindsay Gulin then walked Vitiello and Pascucci to force home Figueroa and Medrano. Matt Cepicky grounded out, but Sledge scored on the play to give Edmonton a 4-1 lead. With two out Randy Knorr was intentionally walked to get to the pitcher, Eric Knott, who singled to left, scoring Vitiello and Pascucci.
Hermansen led off the fourth inning with a double down the right field line, moved to third on a single by Koyie Hill and scored as Chin-Feng Chen grounded into a fielder's choice. The 51s drew to within one run of the lead with three in the fifth. Eric Riggs and Calvin Murray opened the inning with back-to-back singles and advanced on an error by Figueroa. Riggs scored on a ground out by Joe Thurston and Murray scored on a triple by Hermansen. Barnes then singled to plate Hermansen with the 51s fifth run. Medrano led off the bottom half of the sixth inning with a walk and moved to second on a single by Sledge. Vitiello reached on a high chopper to reliever Augustin Montero, who then threw the ball away, allowing Medrano to score and Sledge to advance to third. Pascucci was hit by a pitch and Cepicky grounded into a fielder's choice that allowed Sledge to score. Chen drew the 51s to within two runs of the lead with a solo home run off Jose Colon in the top of the eighth inning. With two out in the ninth and runners at first and second Hill singled to center plating Hermanson with the 51s seventh run, but that was as close as they could get.
Highlights:
Trappers: Are 19-14 at home.visiting club has scored the first run in all six games on this homestand.are 3-3 on an eight-game homestand that will see the top two clubs in the PCL visit TELUS Field.are 15-23 against clubs with winning records. Las Vegas leads the season series, 7-3.Edmonton leads the All-Time series between the two clubs, 142-138.
CF Terrmel Sledge: Was 3-for-4 with two runs scored.has hit safely in 26 of his last 27 games, going 43-for-104 (.414) with five home runs and 19 RBI in that span.has scored 26 runs in those 27 games.began the night in fourth place in the PCL batting race.
Alumni Report:
RHP Claudio Vargas (MTL) @ PIT: Allowed two runs on seven hits in 7.1 innings, but did not get the win as the Pirates came back with two runs in the bottom of the ninth for a 4-3 victory.struck out five.now has a 3.08 ERA.
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