'Cats clutch in win over Beavers

Published on June 30, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Dallas Braden struck out 10 over eight strong innings, Landon Powell hit a three-run double and Wes Bankston hit a two-out, two-run homer for insurance as the Sacramento River Cats beat the Portland Beavers 5-3 Monday night at Raley Field.

Braden (3-0) earned his first victory over the Beavers (42-40) in five career appearances by limiting them to a run and five hits while allowing no walks.

Peter Ciofrone hit a fourth-inning solo homer and Justin Huber added a two-run shot off reliever Jerry Blevins in the ninth for the Beavers, who finished June with a 14-14 record.

Justin Germano, making his 50th career start for Portland, went the distance but suffered consecutive defeats for the second time since joining the club from San Diego in early June. He yielded five runs and 10 hits while striking out seven over a season-high eight innings for his fourth complete game in four seasons with the Beavers.

The game lasted just one hour, 58 minutes, tying the mark for the shortest nine-inning Beavers game since their return to the Pacific Coast League in 2001.

Germano (2-4) couldn't escape damage in the third, allowing a single to Gregorio Petit and a double to Travis Buck before intentionally walking the cleanup hitter, Casey Rogowski, to get to Powell, who laced a two-out, bases-clearing double to right field.

Bankston's home run - his 14th of the season - in the seventh gave Sacramento (50-34) a 5-1 lead.

The series continues Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m.

NOTES: Left-hander Justin Hampson joined the Beavers before the game ... Tom King was 0-for-3 for Portland, snapping his eight-game hit streak ... Brett Dowdy had a six-game hitting streak come to an end.

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