Beavers make it two in a row

June 20, 2004 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Xavier Nady was 2-for-4 with his third home run in two games, and Marty McLeary pitched six strong innings for his first win of the season in the Portland Beavers' 5-1 win over the Fresno Grizzlies before 6,366 Saturday night at PGE Park.

Portland catcher Yamid Haad had three hits and scored twice for Portland, which has won two in a row.

McLeary gave up a fifth-inning run to the Grizzlies, but struck out four and yielded just five hits for his first win since Aug. 13, 2003. The right-hander also had a key two-run double that highlighted a three-run fourth inning for the Beavers (33-37).

Matt Hampton worked two perfect innings of relief and Brandon Puffer retired the side in order in the ninth for his third save and his second in as many nights.

The Beavers strung together four straight hits in the second and took a 1-0 lead when Bernie Castro's single to left scored Haad.

Portland took further control in the bottom of the fourth, building its lead to 4-0 with three runs in the inning. Bobby Scales had an RBI groundout that scored Tagg Bozied, and with two outs, McLeary sliced a two-run double down the right field line to score Haad and Castro. The Grizzlies (31-39) intentionally walked Castro, the No. 8 batter in the lineup, to get to McLeary, who was 0-for-12 for the season going into the at-bat.

Fresno struck for its run on a controversial play in the fifth. Center fielder Freddy Guzman made a diving try of a ball hit by Adam Shabala with one out in the inning and two men on. It was originally ruled a catch and a dropped ball on the transfer as Guzman went to get the ball out of his glove. The Beavers then completed what appeared to be an inning-ending double play and exited the field. Fresno argued the play, and following a brief conference, the umpiring crew ruled that Guzman did not catch the ball, resulting in Jamie Athas' coming across to score.

In the bottom of the fifth, though, Nady, who hit a pair of two-run homers in Friday's 5-3 win over Fresno, reinstated the Beavers' four-run advantage with a solo home run to one of the deepest parts of the park in center field, banking one off the Fred Meyer icon beyond the fence.

It was Nady's third home run in seven at-bats since rejoining the Beavers on Friday.

Kevin Correia (2-5) gave up five runs on nine hits in his 6.0 innings to fall for the fifth time.

In five starts with Portland this season, McLeary carries a 2.73 ERA (8er, 26.1ip). He has a 5.01 ERA in 16 relief appearances with the club.

The series continues Sunday at PGE Park in a 2:05 p.m. start.



Pacific Coast League Stories from June 20, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central