Beavers Fall Short in Quest for Sixth Straight Win

August 27, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. -- J.R. Phillips went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs as the Tacoma Rainiers snapped the Portland Beavers' five-game winning streak with a 4-3 victory Tuesday night in front of 5,149 at PGE Park.

The Beavers (67-71) dropped to two games behind first-place Edmonton in the Pacific Coast League's North Division. Portland also trails second-place Salt Lake by a half-game.

Craig Anderson allowed three runs (one earned) in 6.2 innings to earn the win for the Rainiers. Anderson (12-11) scattered seven hits, walked one and fanned four.

Carlton Loewer, taking the spot of scheduled starter Ben Howard, lost his fifth straight decision. The right-hander pitched 4.2 innings, giving up three runs on seven hits. Loewer (7-7) walked three and struck out three.

Phillips drove in two of the three runs charged to Loewer with a first-inning home run and a fifth-inning sacrifice fly. Chad Meyers knocked in the third run, hitting a RBI single in the second.

After starting the fifth inning with three consecutive singles, the Beavers finally looked ready to break through against Anderson. Portland, however, managed to score just one run, on Donaldo Mendez's sacrifice fly to left center.

The Rainiers (62-76) increased their lead to 4-1 in the top of the sixth on Luis Figueroa's RBI single, but the Beavers battled back in the bottom of the frame.

With two out, Wiki Gonzalez belted a two-run home run to left center, cutting Tacoma's advantage to 4-3.

Gonzalez, who has hit in four-straight games, lead the Beavers with three hits.

Newcomer Jon Knott led off the eighth inning with a double into left-center. But the first-baseman was thrown out trying to advance to third on Rich Gomez's ground out, ending the Beavers' final scoring chance.

NOTES: The San Diego Padres announced Tuesday that they traded outfielder Jason Bay and pitcher Oliver Perez to the Pittsburgh Pirates for outfielder Brian Giles ... the Padres also called up Howard, who was the team's starting pitcher Tuesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks ... Howard allowed four runs and four hits in 6.1 innings, but didn't get a decision in the Padres' 5-4 win.



Pacific Coast League Stories from August 27, 2003


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