Triggers Rock and Roll in Northern Division

by David Tesitor
TRINIDAD — The Trinidad Triggers will enter the final week of the regular season with six games against the Santa Fe Fuego beginning tonight.  After a pair of home games cancelled earlier this week, the Triggers have clinched their first ever division title.
While the final standings are yet to be determined, what is certain is that Trinidad’s playoff run begins July 29 in Santa Fe for two games.  
The other impact of the run for the title is the fact that Trigger’s home run king Caleb Bryson, and Fuego hitter Chevas Numata, are tied at 28 home runs apiece (through Tuesday) and they will likely square off for the Pecos League home run title at Fort Marcy Park, which boasts the smallest outfield in the league.  Both batters have a chance to earn the title.  
Trinidad holds the best record at 39-17 while the Fuego is 32-17.  Weather hampered Santa Fe’s ability to get in every scheduled game, which included three against the Triggers in May, and at this point, those games are lost which will affect their winning percentage when it comes down to the final standings. 
In last week’s action, Trinidad faced the Garden City Wind for the last time of the season.  Trinidad went three of four games bringing their overall record against the expansion Wind to 14-4.  
Last Thursday, at Clint Lightner stadium in Garden City, Trigger pitcher Chris Cummins was on the mound and his outing went better than he hoped.  Cummins struck out nine batters to carry the Trinidad to a 9-2 victory over the Wind. 
Trinidad crushed  all hopes for a Garden City comeback with four runs in the eighth to seal the deal.  Eric Williams racked up four RBIs on two hits for the Trinidad Triggers.  He homered in the third inning and singled in the fifth inning.  Williams still leads the league in batting with a .451 average.  Matthew McCormick (0-6) took the loss for the Wind.  He lasted just seven innings, walked two, struck out six, and allowed five runs.
The following night was a great one for Shane Casey, as he hit two home runs to carry Trinidad to a 20-3 demolition victory over Garden City.  Casey racked up six RBIs on four hits for Trinidad.  He homered in the first and fourth innings and singled in the second and sixth innings.  The Triggers never let up.  They scored 10 runs in the last three innings to finish off the blowout win. 
On the mound for Trinidad was Christian Schneider to eat up innings en route to the win. Schneider pitched seven innings and allowed one earned run, five hits and two walks while striking out three.  
On the other side of the line was the Wind’s bull pen.  Starting pitcher Brandon Hudson couldn’t get it done on the hill for the Wind, taking a loss. He lasted just one and a third innings, walking two, striking out four, and allowing four runs. When the rest of the pen came in to try and stop Trinidad, the Triggers handled Garden City pitching as seven hitters combined for 20 hits, 17 RBIs and 18 runs scored. 
The Wind’s only scoring was off an error in the fifth inning, but by then, Trinidad had built up an 8-0 lead.  Schneider picked up his 5th win against one loss on the season while Hudson (1-6) took the loss.
On Saturday, the Wind picked up an 8-5 win over the Triggers. Hero of the game was Julio Rodriguez, who had two extra base hits.  Rodriquez doubled in the second inning, singled in the seventh inning, and homered in the eighth inning. Winning pitcher for the wind was Jaquez who pitched eight innings and allowed no earned runs, nine hits and five walks while striking out six.  
The one bright spot for the Triggers was slugger, Caleb Bryson who racked up four RBIs on two hits for the Trinidad Triggers.  He singled in the fourth inning and homered in the fifth inning.
In their final game of the series, the Triggers got back on their winning ways taking an 8-7 win over Garden City.  Brian Frazier racked up five RBIs on two hits for the Trinidad Triggers.  He doubled in the first inning and homered in the fourth innings.
Tyler Lundgren had a busy day at the plate, collecting two extra-base hits.  He doubled in the first and fifth innings.  
Matt Horan recorded his ninth win for the Trinidad Triggers even though he allowed seven runs over four innings. Horan struck out four, walked three and gave up nine hits. Zack Russell-Myers (1-7) took the loss for the Garden City Wind. He allowed eight runs in 5 2⁄3 innings, walked five and struck out four.
The Triggers games MOnday and Tuesday were cancelled because of the weather.  Field conditions made it impossible to play, and the decision was made to keep the players off hte field for their own safety.  
Because Trinidad already clinched the division, the games in Santa Fe will be played, leading up to the divisional playoffs.