Big Innings Guide Beavers to Convincing Victory

Published on May 21, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Will Venable was 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs, Michael Barrett drove in three runs and the Portland Beavers scored a combined 14 runs between the fourth and fifth innings on their way to a 16-9 victory over the Tucson Sidewinders before 5,637 Wednesday afternoon at PGE Park.

Peter Ciofrone's two-run double highlighted an eight-run fourth inning, and the Beavers (22-22) got two-run doubles from Barrett and pitcher Enrique Gonzalez during a six-run fifth in one of their more lopsided wins of the season.

Chase Headley hit his eighth home run, reached base five times and scored three runs for the Beavers, who are 12-3 over their last 15 home games.

The Beavers sent 13 batters to the plate in the fourth, setting a new season high for runs in an inning in the process. The inning was kept alive by two Tucson errors that led to five unearned runs.

Starter Juan Gutierrez was lifted after eight of the nine batters he faced in the fourth reached base. Gutierrez (1-8) gave up a season-high nine runs (5 earned), seven hits and four walks over 3 1/3 innings to suffer his eighth loss in his last nine starts.

Tucson reliever Dustin Glant relieved Gutierrez in the fourth, also failing to hold back the Beavers. Glant allowed seven runs (6 earned), seven hits and two walks in just 1 2/3 innings.

Wilkin Castillo hit his first home run and had four RBIs and Trot Nixon added a two-run homer for the Sidewinders (16-31), who fell to 6-19 on the road this season.

Gonzalez (1-2) weathered a rough third inning to get his first win of the season. He gave up five walks, three runs and four hits to go with two strikeouts in five innings of work.

Gonzalez allowed five straight batters to reach with two outs in the top of the third. After loading the bases, he forced in two runs with walks and gave up an RBI single to Josh Whitesell as the Sidewinders took a 3-1 lead.

Headley's one-out solo blast - his fifth homer in his last eight games - trimmed Tucson's lead to 3-2 in the third.

The Beavers wrap up their series with the Sidewinders Thursday night at 7:05 p.m.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 21, 2008


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