Ciofrone Homers Way To Extension; Beavers Survive Slugfest In Road Trip Finale

Published on July 31, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Paul McAnulty was 4-for-4 with four RBIs, Peter Ciofrone extended his hitting streak to 26 games with a third-inning solo home run and the Portland Beavers racked up 17 hits to out-slug the Nashville Sounds 12-8 Tuesday afternoon at Herschel Greer Stadium.

The Beavers, who return to Portland Wednesday to begin an eight-game homestand, wrapped up yet another successful road trip by going 5-3 during their eight-game swing through Memphis and Nashville. Portland (58-50) has won or split each of its last six road trips and comes back to PGE Park having won 11 of its last 15 games.

Ciofrone, who is just one game away from matching the longest hitting streak in the Pacific Coast League this season, also drew two walks - including one with the bases loaded in the seventh - scored three times and accounted for two RBIs. Ciofrone is batting .375 (39-for-104) with one triple, five homers, 14 walks, 22 RBIs and 19 runs scored during his 26-game streak, which started June 29. He has also hit safely in his last 22 road games, which is the longest road streak of the year in the league.

Luke Carlin drove in two runs and scored twice, and Brett Dowdy and Craig Stansberry tallied three hits apiece to help the Beavers to a 3-1 series victory over the Sounds (42-68).

Enrique Gonzalez (5-5) got credit for the win after allowing one run in two innings of relief work. Nashville starter Richie Gardner (6-5) yielded seven runs (6 earned) on seven hits and three walks over 4 1/3 innings for the loss.

McAnulty drove in a run with a sac fly in the first, belted a solo home run in the third and capped the Beavers' four-run seventh with a two-out, two-run double.

After having two early leads go by the wayside, the Beavers overtook Nashville by sending nine batters to the plate in the four-run fifth to take the lead for good. Portland loaded the bases and got a two-run single from Carlin, an RBI groundout by Matt Antonelli and a pinch-hit RBI single from Shawn Wooten to go up 8-6.

Ozzie Chavez hit a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth to cut the Beavers' lead to a run, but Portland took a 12-7 lead with another four-run outburst in the seventh.

Vinny Rottino doubled, hit his sixth home run and drove in three runs for the Sounds, who logged 15 hits and got three apiece from Brad Nelson and Jayson Nix.

NOTES: Justin Huber hit a pinch-hit RBI single in the seventh inning to improve to 5-for-5 with a walk and two RBIs in pinch-hitting situations for the Beavers ... Wooten has reached base in 10 consecutive game ... the Beavers stole a season-high three bases.

Beavers Game File

TUESDAY'S GAME: Beavers 12, Nashville 8

WINNING PITCHER: Gonzalez (5-5)

LOSING PITCHER: Gardner (6-5)

SAVE: None

HOME RUNS: Ciofrone (11), McAnulty (4), Rottino (6), Chavez (2)

WEDNESDAY'S GAME: Albuquerque (Bobby Keppel: 7-11, 6.29) at Portland (Josh Geer: 6-7, 4.08), 7:05 p.m.; live audio broadcast on KKAD AM-1550 and www.portlandbeavers.com.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 31, 2008


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