The PCL Strikes Back
After years of International League victories, the Pacific Coast League rides a history-making grand-slam to its first Triple-A All-Star win in three years.
Jonathan ROYBAL
Minor League News
SACRAMENTO, CA. - In more ways than one, it was a sizzling scorcher in Sacramento at the 2005 Triple-A All-Star Game.
The thermometer read 100+ degrees at Raley Field as the first pitch was thrown; however, it was the Pacific Coast League hitters that ultimately proved to be on fire.
The PCL used a five run first inning to take the lead, and never looked back en route to an 11-5 victory over the International League.
The bulk of the runs in the first came off the bat of Oklahoma RedHawk catcher Gerald Laird, who with the bases loaded, smacked a 2-2 offering from IL starter Jason Scobie over the left field fence.
It was the first grand slam in the 18 year history of the Triple-A All-Star Game and it helped earn Laird the PCL “Star of Stars” Award.
“I was just trying to him something hard,” Laird said of the bomb that broke the IL’s back. “I got up there with the bases loaded, and it was a great opportunity to do something great.”
Despite the lopsided final score, the International League did hold a brief lead after striking quickly in the first inning.
Buffalo Bison second baseman Jake Gautreau got the first hit of the game with a single to right field off PCL starter Chris Gissell from the Memphis Redbirds.
Columbus’ Mitch Jones followed with another hit to right, sending Gautreau to third, where he later scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Syracuse SkyChiefs outfielder John-Ford Griffin.
Gissell regained his command and pitched himself out of the jam by freezing designated hitter Eric Young of Buffalo with a third strike to end the inning.
In the bottom of the first, Norfolk Tides right hander Jason Scobie walked the first batter he faced, Oklahoma shortstop Esteban German.
From there, it would only get worse for the IL and the rout would soon be on.
Tucson Sidewinders teammates Andy Green and Conner Jackson put together back to back singles, pushing across German to tie the game at 1-1.
After Round Rock Express third baseman Mike Coolbaugh grounded out, Matt Watson of the hometown Sacramento Rivercats walked to load the bases and set the stage for Gerald Laird’s grand slam.
Laird’s heroics almost didn’t materialize, as he was initially planning on spending the three day break at a lake outside of Oklahoma City with his girlfriend.
Instead, he was a late edition to the All-Star Game, replacing Albuquerque Isotopes catcher Josh Willingham, who was promoted to the Florida Marlins prior to the game.
Shining in the spotlight and stealing the show was not something Laird was expecting coming into the contest.
“I just wanted to come here and enjoy it. But I’ll tell you what, rounding those bases was a tremendous feeling,” Laird admitted. “It’s a memory I will never forget. It was awesome.”
Louisville Bats third baseman Edwin Encarnation tried to keep the IL close with a solo home run in the top of the second. However, the PCL answered right back in the bottom of the inning, adding two more runs following two straight doubles from German and Green to make the score 7-2.
After two innings, both pitching staffs seemed to settle down a bit, and the game remained scoreless until the PCL exploded again in the sixth.
Portland Beavers infielder J.J. Furmaniak led off the inning with a hit, followed up with a single from Oklahoma’s Ian Kinsler.
Colorado Sky Sox first baseman Ryan Shealy drove in Furmaniak and then advanced to second on a throwing error by Durham Bulls phenom shortstop B.J. Upton.
Infielder Mike Cervenak of the Fresno Grizzlies then hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Kinsler from third.
Hometown hero Matt Watson followed with a two-run blast that brought the capacity crowd of 14,414, to its feet and put the game out of reach for good.
The IL tried to claw back into the game, scoring one run in the seventh, and a couple more in the eighth on a two-run homer from Buffalo’s Jeff Liefer, but it was too little, too late.
“Our guys kept scrapping, but we faced some good arms tonight, and their guys sure brought their bats,” said losing IL manager Marty Brown. "We scored one run in the top of the first and gave five back in the bottom of the inning.
“It was a great effort by everybody,” agreed PCL manager Tony DeFrancesco. “I couldn’t have scripted it better.”
With the victory, the PCL breaks a two-game losing streak to the IL, and widens their overall lead to 5-2 in All-Star Game action since a format change prompted the two leagues to begin facing each other in 1998.
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