Blanks, Brown homer as Portland off to best start since return to PCL in 2001

Published on April 11, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


FRESNO, Calif. - Portland starter Matt Buschmann won his Triple-A debut and the Beavers got back-to-back solo homers from Kyle Blanks and Emil Brown as they beat the Fresno Grizzlies 2-0 Saturday night at Chukchansi Park.

With the win, the Beavers are 3-0 to start the year for the first time since the team returned to the Pacific Coast League in 2001.

Making his first start above Class AA, Buschmann (1-0) tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings, yielding just three hits and two walks while striking out two. He was taken out after getting into a jam in the sixth, but reliever Mike Ekstrom got out of it.

In total, Buschmann combined with four relievers on the four-hit shutout of the Grizzlies, including Joe Thatcher, Scott Patterson and Greg Burke, who notched his first Triple-A save by striking out two and retiring the side in order in the ninth.

Blanks and Brown belted back-to-back solo homers off Fresno starter Steve Hammond in the second to account for the game's only scoring. Hammond (0-1) did not allow a walk and struck out five over his five innings but suffered the loss for the Grizzlies (0-3), who stranded nine base runners on the night.

Brown and Will Venable tallied two hits apiece for the Beavers, who conclude their series with the Grizzlies Sunday at 2:05 p.m.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 11, 2009


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