By Brandi Worley
NYT Institute

NEW ORLEANS, May 22- The New Orleans Zephyrs defeated the Edmonton Trappers, 4-3, at Zephyr Field on Saturday evening. It was the Zephyrs’s fourth consecutive victory, which extends the team’s longest winning streak of the season.

“It’s good to get on a run here,” said Chris Maloney, Zephyrs manager. “It’s a real big win tonight.”

The turning point in the game came in the bottom of the 8th inning, with two outs; the score tied 3-3. Zephyrs catcher, John Buck, hit a grounder toward Trappers third baseman Scott Hodges. Hodges’s throw to first was high, and first baseman Luis Lopez had to jump to try and make the catch, but the ball sailed over his head. Zephyrs’s Phil Hiatt ,who was on first, scored the winning run on Hodges’ slip-up.

Overall the Trappers had three errors.

Zephyrs starting pitcher Chad Qualls was pulled in the 6th inning with his team ahead 3-2. After throwing 99 pitches, giving up four hits and allowing two runs Qualls was replaced by Heath Bost, who pitched for two innings, allowing two hits and no runs. Bobby Chouniard, who was brought on in the 8th inning, gave up a run to 2nd baseman Anthony Medrano, which tied the score 3-3.

Maloney then went into his bullpen and pulled out Shaun Babula who pitched to one batter and got the win.

Kirk Bullinger, came in to close in the ninth, pitched lights out , zipping through the Trappers last three batters in 14 pitches. Bullinger got the save, his sixth in the last six games New Orleans won.

The Zephyrs are 3-0 against the Trappers this season. Saturday’s game was the last time the two teams will play this season.