Beavers 1.5 Game Out of First with Fourth Straight Win

Published on August 24, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - More than three months after their last four-game winning streak, the Portland Beavers have done it again.

But this time, it's more important.

The Beavers, in the midst of a tight pennant race, won their fourth straight game Sunday, a 5-4 victory over the Tacoma Rainiers in front of 7,103 at PGE Park.

"Guys really focused on that game, it was a good ballgame," Portland manager Rick Sweet said. "I'm excited about the way we played"

Portland, which nearly dropped out of playoff contention after a recent four-game losing streak, is now just 1.5 games behind Salt Lake in the Pacific Coast League's North Division.

The last time the Beavers won four in a row, June 2-6, the team led the division by 3.5 games.

Bobby Scales, who joined the team August 20, has been an important part of the Beavers recent success. The infielder went 4-for-5 Sunday and had two doubles, raising his average to .500 in four games.

"We lost our igniter; we lost Bernie Castro," Sweet said. "Bobby's come in and taken over that role. It's been nice to see."

The Beavers have also had strong starting pitching during their streak. In each of the four games, the team's starter has earned the victory.

Dennis Tankersley recorded the win Sunday, allowing one run in five innings. He walked three and fanned eight, including six over the first three innings

The Beavers (66-70) never trailed against Tacoma, scoring a run in the first and two in the second to take a 3-0 lead.

The Rainiers (61-75) scored a fourth-inning run on Luis Figueroa's sacrifice fly, but Rich Gomez lined a two-run fifth-inning homer, giving the Beavers a 5-1 advantage.

Tacoma added a run in the sixth and two in the seventh off Brian Tollberg but the Rainiers couldn't get any closer.

Brandon Villafuerte pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record his 11th save of the season and his second in two days.

Khalil Greene and Xavier Nady each had two hits for Portland.

NOTES: In the first six games of their homestand, the Beavers are hitting .319 ... Yamid Haad went 0-for-4, ending his six-game hitting streak ... Tankersley loaded the bases with no one out in the first, but escaped the jam by striking out Andy Barkett and Mickey Lopez and getting Chad Meyers to fly out.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 24, 2003


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