Trappers Outlast Top Team in PCL
Published on May 9, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
Center fielder Terrmel Sledge was 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI as the Edmonton Trappers outlasted the Las Vegas 51s 9-7 Thursday night at Cashman Field in Las Vegas. The win was the Trappers first in this series and only their second in seven tries at Cashman Field this season. The 51s, who are the top farm club of the Los Angeles Dodgers, currently own the best record in the PCL at 24-10. Despite having a 2-5 record against Las Vegas this season the Trappers have played the 51s tough resulting in five of the seven games being decided by two runs or less. The Trappers and 51s wrap up this four-game set on Friday night at Cashman Field. The game will end a run that has seen Edmonton play 28 of its first 32 games against the South Division. Edmonton's "Boys of Summer" will return to TELUS Field to begin an eight-game homestand on Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader against the Portland Beavers.
Edmonton got the scoring started with a single run in the top of the first inning. With one out third baseman Scott Hodges doubled and first baseman Luis Ortiz followed with a single, which plated Hodges with the first run. It was also the first RBI of the season for Ortiz. Las Vegas tied the game in the second inning with a single run off Trapper starter Sun Woo Kim (3-2), but Edmonton regained the lead with a big four-run fourth off former Trapper hurler Andrew Lorraine (3-2). Edwards Guzman got things going with a double, Matt Cepicky drew a walk and Randy Knorr singled to load the bases for Kim, who doubled to right field, scoring Guzman and Cepicky. Anthony Medrano then singled, scoring Knorr and Sledge later delivered an RBI single of his own to give Edmonton a 5-1 lead.
Sledge gave the Trappers a five-run lead in the sixth inning with a solo home run off Masao Kida. It was his club-leading sixth home run of the season. Las Vegas plated one run in the bottom of the inning to narrow the lead back to four runs, but the Trappers rallied for two unearned runs in the seventh to take an 8-2 lead. Valentino Pascucci reached on an error to open the inning and moved to second on a single by Cepicky. Knorr followed with a base hit that plated Pascucci. Kim grounded into a double play, but Cepicky scored Edmonton's eighth run on the play. The 51s scored four times off Kim in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Edmonton came right back with a run off former Trapper David Lee in the eighth. Ortiz doubled with two out in the inning and scored on a single by Guzman. Closer Julio Manon yielded a single run in the bottom of the eighth, but then tossed a scoreless ninth to preserve the victory for Edmonton. It was the sixth save of the season for Manon.
Highlights:
Trappers: Are 12-8 in the last 20 games...are 7-12 on the road...are 12-15 against the South Division...left a season-high 13 runners on base (Las Vegas also stranded 13 runners)...have committed eight errors in seven games at Cashman Field...51s made three errors on Thursday night...are 2-9 in Tucson and Las Vegas this season, but are 12-8 elsewhere...Las Vegas leads the season series, 5-2...Edmonton leads the All-Time series between the two clubs, 141-136.
LF Matt Cepicky: Was 1-for-3 with two runs scored extending his hitting streak to six games...is 10-for-22 (.455) in that span...has hit safely in 16 of his last 17 games, going 26-for-66 (.394) with two home runs and 13 RBI...has eight multi-hit games in that period.
Alumni Report:
RHP Kyle Lohse (MIN) @ TB: Tossed a complete game, four-hit shutout as the Twins defeated the Devil Rays 5-0...struck out three en route to earning his third win of the season...retired 19 of the last 21 batters that he faced...was the second shutout of his career.
3B Eric Chavez (OAK) vs. CWS: Was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI as the A's downed the White Sox 8-5...hammered his eighth home run of the season off Rick White in the seventh inning...is batting .270 with 15 RBI this season.
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 9, 2003
- Sounds Swept In Twinbill - Nashville Sounds
- Diablo dingers drop Express - Round Rock Express
- Mother's Day At Raley Field - Sacramento River Cats
- Jackie Robinson Night Set For Monday At Raley Field - Sacramento River Cats
- River Cats to Begin Four-Game Homestand Saturday - Sacramento River Cats
- Bay Named PCL Player of the Month - PCL1
- Stanifer Added to Zephyrs Roster - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Trappers Outlast Top Team in PCL - Edmonton Trappers
- Portland Takes a Doubleheader from Oklahoma - Portland Beavers
- Sidewinders Dramatic 9th Inning Comeback Extends Winning Streak To 3 Games - Tucson Sidewinders
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