Trappers return for four-game homestand

Published on May 27, 2004 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release


The Trappers return home after an eight-game road trip on Friday night to begin a series against the defending PCL Champions, the Sacramento River Cats. The club has been struggling on the road, but are looking forward to returning home where they are 9-6 at TELUS Field and 15-8 overall (including the first eight games in Yuma, AZ). Some of the top Trapper performers thus far in 2004 are: Outfielder Ryan Church, who is fifth in the league in batting at .353 and leads the club with a .597 slugging percentage. Left-hander Scott Downs is fourth in the league with 61 2/3 innings pitched and is tied for the club lead with right-hander Pat Mahomes with four wins. Right-hander Wilton Chavez leads the pitching staff with 41 strikeouts. The Trappers will look to these players for continued production during this four-game homestand.

Series Preview: Sacramento River Cats

Friday May 28: After finishing up their series with the Memphis Redbirds, the Sacramento River Cats will be coming to town for a four-game set with the Trappers. The River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, are 27-20 on the season and winners of five of their last seven entering tonight's game. The Trappers are 4-4 versus the River Cats so far this season, batting .286 as a team. The series has been even closer than the record suggests, with both teams having scored 45 runs in the eight games. Last season the Trappers were 5-11 versus the River Cats and trail the All-Time series 26-30.

Prospects to Look For:

Joe Blanton (RHP) was selected by the Athletics 24th overall in the 2002 draft and started his pro career with Vancouver. He is 3-1 with a 3.23 ERA (64.0 IP-23 ER) in 10 starts this season. Blanton entered this season with a 12-10 record and a 2.52 ERA (189 IP-53 ER) in 34 games (29 starts) in his minor league career and is ranked as the second-best prospect in the Oakland organization by Baseball America.

Graham Koonce (1B) drafted in the 60th by the Detroit Tigers in 1993, Koonce was selected by Oakland in the 2001 Rule 5 draft. Koonce is hitting .282 with eight home runs and 31 RBI in 33 games. He was named PCL MVP after setting a career-high in home runs last season with 34. Koonce has worked his way up to be ranked as the fifth-best prospect in the Oakland organization.

Nick Swisher (OF) was selected 16th overall in the 2002 draft and also started his career in Vancouver. The son of former major leaguer Steve Swisher, Nick is hitting .255 with six homers and 23 RBI in 37 games this season and is ranked as the sixth-best prospect in the Oakland organization.

Mike Rouse (SS) was selected in the fifth round of the 2001 draft by Toronto and was dealt to Oakland as part of the trade that sent Cory Liddle to the Blue Jays. Rouse is hitting .216 with three home runs and six RBI in 29 games this season. He is ranked as the eighth-best prospect in the Oakland organization.

Once a Trapper, Always a Trapper Walt Horn spent four seasons as the Trappers trainer from 1995-1998, was part of the back-to-back championship seasons in 1996 and 1997 and won the PCL Trainer of the Year award in 1996.

Britt Reames spent the 2003 season with the Trappers, going 5-13 with a 5.42 ERA (118.0 IP-71 ER) in 25 games (20 starts).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 27, 2004


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