Ciofrone matches longest hitting streak in eight seasons

Published on July 22, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Paul McAnulty was 3-for-4 with a three-run homer and four RBIs, Wade LeBlanc turned in six strong innings for his eighth win and Peter Ciofrone matched an eight-year franchise record by hitting in his 19th consecutive game as the Portland Beavers beat the Memphis Redbirds 6-3 Tuesday night at AutoZone Park.

With the win in the road-series opener, the Beavers (54-47) moved to seven games above .500 for the first time this season and have now won seven of their last eight games as they continue their steady climb up the North Division. Portland also ran its season-best, road-winning streak to four games and beat the Redbirds for the ninth time in the last 11 meetings dating back to the 2005 campaign.

LeBlanc (8-7), who didn't give up a hit until the fifth, exited after six solid innings. The left-hander struck out seven and gave up one run, three hits and two walks for his first road win since June 7.

Edwin Moreno logged his fifth straight save by pitching a perfect ninth inning.

The loss went to Clayton Mortensen (4-3), who yielded five runs, five hits and a pair of walks in his six innings of work for the Redbirds (56-47).

McAnulty's second home run since joining the club prior to the all-star break flanked the Beavers to a 3-0 lead in the first. He later hit an RBI double as Portland added two runs in the third inning. Ciofrone singled on a line drive to right field and scored on McAnulty's double to stretch his current hitting streak to 19 games, a string that ties Terrmel Sledge for the longest streak since the Beavers returned to the Pacific Coast League in 2001.

David Freese, a former San Diego Padres farmhand, doubled and drove in all three Memphis runs.

After Freese's RBI single in the sixth snapped a string of 15 straight scoreless innings for Portland pitching, the Beavers plated an unearned run in the seventh for a 6-1 lead.

Freese hit a two-out, two-run double in the eighth to help the Redbirds trim their deficit to three runs.

The series continues Wednesday night at AutoZone Park. First pitch is 5:05 p.m. (Pacific).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 22, 2008


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