Trappers Rally Comes Up One Short

June 15, 2004 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release


Right fielder Micah Franklin was 3-for-3 with two walks, a double, a home run and three RBI as the Tucson Sidewinders defeated the Edmonton Trappers 5-4 Tuesday night at TELUS Field. The loss ends a four-game winning streak for the Trappers, who lost a one-run game at TELUS Field for the first time this season. The club is now 7-1 in one-run affairs at TELUS Field and 10-10 overall in those games. Edmonton had numerous chances to tie the game and ended up leaving 11 runners on base.

Despite the loss the Trappers have had a successful homestand thus far, winning four of the first six games. Edmonton is 21-12 at home this season, including a 15-10 record at TELUS Field. The Trappes are five games behind the first-place Tacoma Rainiers in the North Division of the PCL. Edmonton and Tucson continue this four-game series on Wednesday afternoon at TELUS Field.

Both teams squandered early opportunities as Trapper starter Ron Chiavacci (1-6) and Tucson lefty Mike Gosling (3-3) struggled in the early going. The Sidewinders had runners at second and third in the first inning, but failed to score when second baseman Keoni DeRenne was tossed out at home on a ground ball to first base. Meanwhile the Trappers had two hits and a walk in the bottom of the first, but failed to score when Anthony Medrano ended the inning by getting tossed out at home. Tucson broke through with a single run in the third inning as Gosling led off the frame with a walk, moved to second on a bloop single into center field by DeRenne, advanced to third on a base hit that fell just in front of right fielder Ryan Church and scored on a sacrifice fly by Steve Neal.

Tucson third baseman Brian Barden gave the Sidewinders a two-run advantage with a one-out solo home run in the fourth inning, his second dinger of the season. Edmonton battled back with a single run in the bottom of the sixth inning off Gosling. With one out center fielder Brandon Watson drew a walk and advanced to third on a double by Medrano. Left fielder Ron Calloway then grounded out, scoring Watson with the Trappers first run. Valentino Pascucci and Church drew walks to load the bases, but Mike Schultz came on in relief and got Jorge Toca to ground out to end the threat.

Tucson shortstop Jerry Gil led off the seventh inning with a single, but was erased when pinch-hitter Kyle Nichols grounded into a fielder's choice. Left fielder Victor Hall then reached on an infield single, putting runners at first and second. Rob Stanifer entered the game in relief for the Trappers and got the first out, but then yielded a three-run home to Franklin that gave the Sidewinders a four-run lead.

Edmonton battled back with two runs in the bottom of the frame off reliever Mark Freed. Second baseman Brian Harris led off with a bunt single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a single by Paul Hoover. Wes Carroll drew a walk to load the bases for Watson, who reached on an infield single, scoring Harris from third.

Hoover scored when Medrano grounded into a double play. Watson started another rally in the ninth inning, reaching again on an infield single with one out. He moved to third on a double by Calloway and scored on a wild pitch. The Trappers loaded the bases when Pascucci and Church drew intentional walks leaving the game in the hands of reliever Jason Childers, who grounded out to end the contest. Edmonton was out of position players, forcing Childers, who has never picked up a hit in his career, to bat.

Highlights: Trappers: Have a 31-34 record.left 11 runners on base, including the bases loaded in the ninth inning.four-game winning streak comes to an end.are 7-1 in one-run games at TELUS Field.are 21-12 at home, including a 15-10 record at TELUS Field.have hit 35 home runs, the lowest total in the PCL.have gone deep just seven times in 25 games at TELUS Field.the season series is tied 1-1.Tucson leads the All-Time series, 165-139 (.543).

CF Brandon Watson: Did not hit the ball out of the infield, but went 3-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI.reached on a bunt single in the first inning and two infield singles later on.has hit safely in six straight games, going 10-for-25 (.400) in that span.



Pacific Coast League Stories from June 15, 2004


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