Beavers Fall to Third Place after being Swept by Sale Lake

Published on July 20, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Starter Matt Hensley gave up a run on three hits in eight innings of work and Julio Ramirez hit a two-run homer to cap a four-run sixth as the Salt Lake Stingers completed a four-game sweep over the Portland Beavers Sunday afternoon with a 6-2 win in front of 6,817 at PGE Park.

Hensley (6-9) allowed a solo home run in the second, but went on to retire 14 straight batters between the second and eighth innings and retired 19 of the last 20 batters he faced. The right-hander struck out five and issued one walk as the Stingers (49-52) swept the Beavers (49-53) at PGE Park for the second time this season. The Stingers are 10-2 against Portland this year and have won nine straight at PGE Park dating back to 2002.

The sweep of the four-game series propelled Salt Lake ahead of the third-place Beavers in the Pacific Coast League North Division.

Portland starter Carlton Loewer, who was chased after 5.2 innings of work, took his third loss of the season. Loewer (7-3) allowed six runs on 11 hits.

Up by a run, the Stingers took charge in the sixth. Ramirez hit a two-run home run just out of the reach of left fielder Rich Gomez to cap the four-run inning and give the Stingers a 6-1 advantage. Earlier in the frame, Jeff Guiel hit a sharp ball to shortstop Khalil Greene that was sufficient enough to plate Gary Johnson from third. Adam Riggs, who singled, made it a three-run advantage as he scored from third on a throwing error by Bernie Castro.

Riggs and Guiel led off the fifth with back-to-back doubles as the Stingers tied it at 1-1. Keith Johnson hit an RBI single to center that scored Guiel to give Salt Lake its first lead of the game.

Tagg Bozied started the scoring with a solo home run to left-center off Hensley to lead off the bottom of the second. It was Bozied's first home run in a month; he went 97 at-bats in between blasts.

Castro hit a solo home run to left field for Portland in the ninth. It was his second home run of the season and just the fifth of his five-year career.

Alfredo Amezaga had three hits for the Stingers.

NOTES: The Beavers drew 42,227 fans in the four-game series, an average of 10,557 per game ... Portland opens up a four-game series at Sacramento Monday night ... right-hander Steve Watkins made his Portland debut Sunday ... Watkins was transferred to Portland from Class AA Mobile on Thursday ... after the game, the Beavers released right-handed pitcher Jose Silva ... Silva was 0-3 with a 5.54 ERA in 17 appearances with the Beavers ... Portland will activate right-hander Ben Howard from the Disabled List for Monday's start in the first game of the Sacramento series.



Pacific Coast League Stories from July 20, 2003


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