Ayala Deals Two-Hit Shutout In Opener, But Beavers Settle For Doubleheader Split

Published on August 14, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Manny Ayala turned in a two-hit shutout in his second career appearance at the Triple-A level, and the Portland Beavers capitalized on three home runs and a seven-run fifth inning on their way to an 11-0 rout of the Fresno Grizzlies in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday night at PGE Park.

The Grizzlies (58-67) gained a split in the twin-bill when Jake Wald broke a scoreless tie in the nightcap with a two-out, two-run home run to left-center in the top of the seventh inning as Fresno turned the tables with a 2-0 shutout.

In the first game, Paul McAnulty and Vincent Sinisi both homered and drove in three runs apiece, and Brett Dowdy hit his third, first-inning leadoff home run of the season for the Beavers (64-60), who racked up 15 hits.

Ayala (1-0), who was transferred to Portland from Class AA San Antonio earlier in the day, struck out three and scattered four walks and the two hits over his seven innings for the Beavers' second complete game of the year and the fourth of this four-year career. Ayala's only other Triple-A appearance came with the Beavers during the 2006 season.

Dowdy and McAnulty hit solo homers, and Justin Huber, who was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, added a run-scoring single as the Beavers took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Dowdy got things going again in the second, plating Matt Antonelli with an RBI double.

Then came the fifth, where the Beavers sent 13 batters to the plate and built their lead to 11-0 on the strength of Sinisi's two-run homer, back-to-back RBI doubles from J.D. Closser and Huber, and a two-run single by McAnulty.

Fresno starter Victor Santos (5-6) gave up four runs and seven hits over four innings to take the loss for the Grizzlies, who had former Beavers infielder Justin Leone pitch the sixth inning.

Both teams got solid pitching efforts in the second contest, but Wald narrowly cleared the fence against newcomer Jonathan Ellis to lift the Grizzlies to a 2-0 victory.

Dirk Hayhurst, making his second spot start of the year, gave the Beavers five strong innings in the nightcap, striking out five and holding the Grizzlies to a walk and three hits. Ellis (0-1), who was also transferred from Class AA San Antonio on Wednesday, worked two innings to take the loss in his Triple-A debut.

Osiris Matos (1-0) struck out five over three scoreless innings of relief, Kevin Gryboski closed the door for his eighth save and Dan Ortmeier was 2-for-2 with a double, a walk and a run scored in the second game for the Grizzlies, who snapped a 23-inning scoreless string with Wald's homer.

The Beavers play host to the Grizzlies again Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. in a game televised live on FSN.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 14, 2008


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