Beavers, Health Net Raise $18,315 During Annual 'Strike Out Breast Cancer' Game

Published on August 5, 2007 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Beavers pulled off an impressive double-double Sunday afternoon at PGE Park, raising more than $18,000 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure while getting a dramatic 6-5 victory over the Memphis Redbirds thanks to a go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth inning from Yordany Ramirez.

As part of their "Strike Out Breast Cancer Day" on Sunday, the Beavers wore special pink-ribbon jerseys that were auctioned off to fans. A silent auction of the adidas-designed jerseys grossed $4,315 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, while Health Net, the presenting partner for the game, presented a check for $14,000 as part of its season-long program to donate $25 for each home strikeout recorded by a Beavers pitcher.

Frank Menechino's jersey drew the highest bid in the silent auction, going for $375. Game-worn jerseys for Ramirez and Hiram Bocachica garnered $300 apiece, while jerseys from Craig Stansberry, Pete Laforest, Shawn Estes, Terrmel Sledge and Luke Carlin each went for $200.

Sunday's annual event attracted 6,215 fans to PGE Park.

The Beavers trailed by two in the eighth before Ramirez belted his go-ahead, three-run homer over the wall in left against Andy Cavazos (1-5).

Ramirez was 2-for-5 with four RBIs to lead the Beavers (47-69).

Aaron Rakers (3-3) was credited with his third win of the year and Scott Cassidy earned his eighth save.

Memphis (47-69) grabbed a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the second, but the Beavers tied it in the bottom of the inning when Royce Huffman's one-out single scored Menechino, who reached on a leadoff double. Two batters later, Ramirez dropped a single over the shortstop to score Stansberry from third to give Portland its first lead.

Memphis got back-to-back singles from Skip Schumaker and Brendan Ryan in the top of the third, and it scored the tying run as the result of an errant pickoff throw to first by pitcher Jack Cassel.

In the fifth, Ryan singled to right with two outs and gave the Redbirds a 3-2 lead by scoring Nick Stavinoha's double to the corner in left. An RBI double by Jarrett Hoffpauir made it a two-run Memphis lead in the sixth.

The Beavers got a run back in the seventh, getting an RBI single from Shea Hillenbrand. Portland, however, had a chance at further damage by loading the bases, but former Beaver Brian Falkenborg enticed an inning-ending groundout from Menechino to preserve the Redbirds' one-run lead at the time.

The two teams return to action Monday at 7:05 p.m.

NOTES: Before the game, the Padres recalled Portland pitcher Mike Thompson and optioned pitcher Clay Hensley to Portland. Hensley took a no-decision for the Padres Saturday night, a game in which he allowed Barry Bonds' record-tying 755th career home run ... Bocachica has reached base safely in each of his nine games with the Beavers ... despite a 13-pitch, pinch-hit at-bat in the eighth, Brian Myrow, the PCL's leading hitter coming into the game, had an 11-game hit streak come to an end ... Memphis outfielder Rick Ankiel, who leads the league in home runs, did not play Sunday.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 5, 2007


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