Beavers Win High-Scoring Affair

Published on June 29, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


SALT LAKE CITY - Behind a franchise-record 25 hits, including three home runs, the Portland Beavers won a 15-13 slugfest Saturday night over the Salt Lake Stingers.

With the win, Portland (42-41) snapped its three-game losing streak and stayed atop the Pacific Coast League's North Division. The win also marked the Beavers first victory over the Stingers since August 25, 2002, a string of seven games.

The 43 hits recorded by both teams was a season high, eclipsing the old mark of 37 set April 21 in Portland's 12-9 victory over the Tucson Sidewinders.

Each Beavers starter at least two hits on the night. Every starter except Tagg Bozied, who was thrown out at home in the ninth inning, scored one or more runs for Portland.

Bernie Castro, who has hit safely in six straight games, had five singles and two stolen bases. With his run-scoring double and three-run home run, Khalil Greene notched five RBIs.

Alex Fernandez added four hits, giving him eight in the first three games of the Salt Lake series. Rich Gomez, contributed a three-hit night, highlighted by a three-run sixth inning home run. Gomez also stole two bases for the Beavers.

Brian Tollberg (2-1) was roughed up by the Stingers for eight runs (seven earned) in five innings, but still earned the win. The right-hander allowed 12 hits, struck out two and walked two.

Cliff Bartosh threw 1.1 innings to earn his ninth save for Portland. In the ninth, the left hander put runners on first and third with only one out, but managed to get two quick outs to end the game.

Steve Green (6-4) took the loss for Salt Lake, giving up 10 runs and 14 hits through 4.1 innings of work.

The Beavers were retired 1-2-3 in the top of the first, but the offense roared back in the next five frames. Portland scored once in the second, three times in the third, twice in the fourth, five times in the fifth and four times in the sixth to take a seemingly insurmountable 15-6 lead.

Down by nine, the Stingers fought back with a couple of rallies of their own. Salt Lake (39-43) scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth off Tollberg and five in the eighth off Brandon Villafuerte to pull to within 15-13.

For Salt Lake, Trent Durrington and Jeff Guiel each had three hits. Adam Riggs smashed two home runs, a solo shot in the third and two-run blast in the sixth.

NOTES: Fernandez extended his hitting steak to seven games with a second-inning single ...the five eighth inning runs scored by the Stingers were the first runs charged to Villafuerte in his nine appearances this season ...

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 29, 2003


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