Trappers Win as Sledge Extends Hitting Streak to 20 Games

June 12, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release


Outfielder Terrmel Sledge was 2-for-4 with a run scored as the Edmonton Trappers edged the Iowa Cubs 6-5 Wednesday night at Sec Taylor Stadium in Des Moines. Sledge extended his hitting streak to 20 games with the two base hits. He is 32-for-75 (.427) during the streak, which is the second longest in the PCL this season and is tied for the sixth longest in Trapper history. For the Trappers it was yet another close game on this road trip, which has seen them go 4-3. Six of the seven games have been decided by two runs or less, including all three contests in this series, which the Cubs lead two games to one. Edmonton shortstop Anthony Medrano was 2-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI to extend his streak of reaching base via a hit or a walk to 31 games, the longest on-base streak in the PCL this season. The Trappers and Cubs will wrap up this four-game series on Thursday night at Sec Taylor Stadium. Edmonton will return home on Friday to begin an eight-game homestand against the Sacramento River Cats.

The Trappers had a chance to take the early lead off Iowa starter Steve Smyth (3-5). They loaded the bases in the first inning, but were unable to score off the left-hander. Iowa second baseman Bobby Hill put the Cubs on the board in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff homer off Tim Drew (2-7). Shortstop Nate Frese came through later in the inning with an RBI single that plated right fielder Trenidad Hubbard with the Cubs second run. Edmonton tied the game in the third inning with two runs off Smyth. Luis Figueroa led off with a single, but was erased when Medrano grounded into a fielder's choice. Sledge singled and Joe Vitiello drew a walk to load the bases for Valentino Pascucci, who doubled down the right field line, scoring Sledge and Medrano. Two more runs in the fourth inning gave Edmonton a two-run lead. Scott Hodges led off with his fourth longball of the season and second in as many night's and Drew later scored on an infield single by Medrano.

Former Trapper Keith Evans took over for Smyth in the fifth inning, but did not fair any better. Pascucci led off the inning with a double to left center and moved to third on a single by Matt Cepicky. With one out Hodges lofted a sacrifice fly into left field to score Pascucci. Edmonton took a four-run lead in the top of the sixth as Medrano led off with a double and later scored as Vitiello grounded into a double play. The Trappers almost let the lead getaway in the bottom of the sixth as the Cubs scored three times to reduce the lead to one. Mike Mahoney led off the frame with a double and advanced to third on a one-out single by Hill. Bo Donaldson replaced Drew, but he immediately walked Hubbard to load the bases. He struck out Midre Cummings, but then walked Phil Hiatt, forcing home Mahoney, and allowed a two-run single to Nic Jackson that drew the Cubs to within one run of the lead. With two on and no one out in the bottom of the seventh inning Bryan Hebson replaced Donaldson and did an outstanding job. He got out of the jam and proceeded to toss 3.0 shutout innings to earn his second save of the season. The two clubs combined to leave 27 runners on base, including 16 by Iowa.

Highlights:

Trappers: Are 14-21 on the road...are 4-3 on this road trip...are 12-7 when the opponent starts a left-hander...are 8-12 in road games decided by two runs or less...are 8-21 when the opposition scores the first run, including a 3-13 mark on the road...staff has yielded 45 longballs all season...Iowa leads the season series, 2-1...Edmonton leads the All-Time series between the two clubs, 20-19.

CF/LF Terrmel Sledge: Returned to the lineup after missing four games and went 2-for-4 with a run scored to extend his hitting streak to 20 games...is 32-for-75 (.427) with 20 runs scored, four home runs and 15 RBI in that span.

Alumni Report:

DH Justin Morneau (MIN) vs. COL: The ninth Canadian to ever play for the Trappers is off to a great start in his Major League career, going 5-for-8 in his first two games...was 3-for-4 with a runs scored a first inning single that scored Cristian Guzman.



Pacific Coast League Stories from June 12, 2003


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