51s Overtake Portland With Big Inning, Hang On For 12-11 Win

Published on April 26, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


LAS VEGAS - Xavier Paul was 3-for-3 with three RBIs and Luis Maza and John Lindsey added three hits each, helping the Las Vegas 51s hold on for a 12-11 victory over the Portland Beavers Friday night at Cashman Field.

The 51s (11-10), who have won five of their last six games, racked up 17 hits in the game, overtook Portland with a six-run fourth inning and added necessary insurance with a three-run seventh to beat the Beavers for the sixth straight time at Cashman Field dating back to a four-game sweep last July.

Portland starter Wade LeBlanc took a 4-2 lead into the fourth but was pulled after giving up four straight hits, including RBI doubles by Terry Tiffee and Lindsey and a run-scoring single by Angel Chavez. Danny Ardoin added a two-run double off Dirk Hayhurst and Paul, who logged RBI singles in the second and sixth innings, closed out the scoring in the frame with a sac fly to left that scored Ardoin.

LeBlanc (2-1) was charged with seven runs, 10 hits and five walks in 3 1/3 innings in suffering his first Triple-A defeat. Miguel Pinango (1-0) gave up five runs and five hits over five innings for the win, while former Beaver Brian Falkenborg got the save, despite giving up a two-run homer to Oscar Robles in the ninth that cut the 51s' lead to a run.

Jody Gerut was 3-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs, Chip Ambres hit his third home run and Robles tallied four RBIs for the Beavers, who rallied for six runs over the final three innings to get within a run after falling behind by as many as six.

Chavez hit his first home run of the season and Blake DeWitt drew three walks and scored three times for Las Vegas.

The Beavers (7-12), who have lost five in a row, broke out in the top of the fourth, taking a 4-2 lead on Ambres' three-run shot off Pinango.

Gerut tripled and scored on Chase Headley's RBI single in the fifth and later doubled home a run in the seventh as Portland chipped away at its deficit. Robles had a two-run single and scored on Gerut's bases-loaded single in the eighth to cut Las Vegas' lead to 12-9.

NOTES: Pitcher Clay Hensley made his first rehab appearance for the Beavers, allowing a run in one inning of relief ... the Beavers committed three errors ... seven of Portland's 12 hits went for extra bases ... division-rival Salt Lake won its 11th straight game and improved to 19-1 on the season with an 8-0 shutout over Fresno Friday night ... the 17 hits allowed matched a season high for the Portland pitching staff.

Beavers Game File

FRIDAY'S GAME: Las Vegas 12, Beavers 11

WINNING PITCHER: Pinango (1-0)

LOSING PITCHER: LeBlanc (2-1)

SAVE: Falkenborg (3)

HOME RUNS: Ambres (3), Robles (1), Chavez (1)

SATURDAY'S GAME: Portland (Enrique Gonzalez: 0-0, 0.00) at Las Vegas (Jason Johnson: 1-2, 9.87), 7:05 p.m.; live broadcast on KKAD AM-1550 and www.portlandbeavers.com.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 26, 2008


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