Beavers Take Early Lead, Hold on to Avoid Series Sweep

Published on July 3, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


TACOMA, Wash. - Vincent Sinisi and Matt Antonelli each drove in two runs and Brian Lawrence pitched six strong innings as the Portland Beavers defeated the Tacoma Rainiers 8-4 Friday night at Cheney Stadium.

Sinisi finished 2-for-4, including a two-run double, and scored a pair of runs, Antonelli added a two-run triple, and four others each added an RBI for the Beavers (38-44).

Brian Lawrence (2-1) gave up three early runs, but retired 10 straight batters in the middle innings to earn his first road win as a Beaver. The righthander allowed four runs on seven hits over six innings.

Brad Nelson collected two hits, a home run and a pair of RBIs, Bryan LaHair added a homer and Chris Shelton had an RBI for the Rainiers (38-43).

Jose Lobaton and Sean Kazmar put the Beavers up 2-0 with back-to-back RBI doubles as Portland capitalized on a Rainiers error in the second inning.

Tacoma tied the game in the bottom of the frame on solo homers by LaHair and Nelson.

Sinisi followed Chad Huffman's single with a two-run double as the Beavers rallied with two outs in the third to retake the lead, 4-2.

Callix Crabbe walked to lead off the fourth, advanced to third on a single and then scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by Shelton.

Portland increased their lead to 5-3 in the sixth on an RBI double by Peter Ciofrone.

Adam Moore scored all the way from first on a hard-hit double by Nelson, bringing the Rainiers to within a run in the sixth.

The Beavers secured the win in the ninth on a two-run triple by Antonelli and an RBI groundout by Mike Baxter.

Rainiers starter Andy Baldwin (5-6) took the loss after yielding five runs (3 earned) on six hits in eight innings.

Eulogio De La Cruz (4) pitched a scoreless 1 2/3 innings to garner his fourth save of the season.

The Beavers return home to open a four-game series against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, beginning on July 4. First pitch is 7:05 p.m. (Pacific)

NOTES: The Beavers have won the final game to avoid a series sweep six times, including twice against Tacoma ... Portland has not homered in five straight games, their longest drought of the season.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 3, 2009


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