Trappers Sweep Doubleheader from Royals

June 8, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release


Designated hitter Luis Ortiz was 4-for-4 with three runs scored, two doubles, a home run and five RBI as the Edmonton Trappers downed the Omaha Royals 9-2 Sunday afternoon in the second game of a doubleheader at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha. The Trappers also won the first game, 3-1, behind a solid outing from left-hander Scott Downs (6-3). It was their second sweep of a doubleheader this season. The club has split the other four doubleheaders that they have been involved in 2003. Edmonton took three of the four games from the Royals in the series and have now won seven of the last nine games they have played at Rosenblatt Stadium. The Trappers improved their road record to 13-19 with the sweep. Edmonton begins a four-game series in Des Moines against the Iowa Cubs on Monday night.

Trappers' first baseman Joe Vitiello got the scoring started in the first game with a solo home run off Omaha starter Ryan Baerlocher (2-1). The home run was Vitiello's second of the season. Baerlocher settled in after that, retiring 12 of the next 13 batters and eight in a row at one point. The Trappers finally broke the string of outs in the sixth inning. Third baseman Scott Hodges led off with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Peter Bergeron. Anthony Medrano then tripled, scoring Hodges and Ortiz followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Medrano with Edmonton's third and final run. Downs held the Royals scoreless for the first six innings, but they managed to get to him for one run in the seventh to break the shutout. With one out Jed Hansen doubled and scored on a single by Alexis Gomez. Hansel Izquierdo took over from Downs and walked two batters to load the bases, but managed to get out of the jam without allowing another run. He recorded his first save of the campaign.

Ortiz, who played in 44 games for Omaha in 1998, opened the scoring in the second game with a two-out solo home run, his fifth of the season, in the first inning. There was no more scoring until the fourth inning when Ortiz and Vitiello hit back-to-back doubles, producing the Trappers second run of the contest. The Royals tied the game in the bottom of the frame when Morgan Burkhart singled off Trappers' starter Britt Reames (3-6) and Mike Kelly followed with a two-run home run. Edmonton took the lead in the fifth inning with four runs off reliever Shawn Sedlacek (1-8). Medrano led off with a single and moved to third on a two-out double by Bergeron. Luis Figueroa drew a walk to load the bases and Medrano scored on a wild pitch. An infield single by Ortiz plated Bergeron and a single to center by Vitiello scored Figueroa. Matt Cepicky capped the scoring in the frame with a single that drove home Ortiz. A three-run double by Ortiz that scored Figueroa, Bergeron and Scott Sandusky in the sixth inning completed the scoring in the second game.

Highlights:

Trappers: Are 13-19 on the road...are now 7-12 All-Time at Rosenblatt Stadium...staff has yielded only 40 longballs all season...Edmonton wins the season series, 3-1...Omaha leads the All-Time series between the two clubs, 22-16.

DH Luis Ortiz: Was 4-for-4 with three runs scored, two doubles, a home run and five RBI in the second game...also drove in a run in the first game with a sacrifice fly...has five home runs and 20 RBI for the Trappers this season...was 6-for-11 (.545) in the series.



Pacific Coast League Stories from June 8, 2003


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