Despite Late Rally, Beavers Lose 4-3 in Front of 15,454

Published on July 18, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Chris Bootcheck tossed seven scoreless innings and Salt Lake survived a late-inning Portland rally as the Stingers held on to defeat the Beavers 4-3 Thursday night in front of 15,454 at PGE Park.

The crowd was the largest of the season and the second largest to attend a Beavers game since the 2001 renovation to PGE Park. Only the park opener on April 30, 2001 was bigger (18,616).

Bootcheck (4-7) struck out four, allowed four hits and did not issue a walk. Earlier this season, the Beavers roughed up Bootcheck for six runs on eight hits in just four innings of work in a 6-4 win over the Stingers (46-52) June 29.

Down 4-0, the Beavers rallied for a run in the eighth and scored a pair in the ninth before Doug Nickle came on to retire the final two batters to get his fourth save of the year.

Prior to Nickle's arrival, Mark Quinn launched a solo shot high off the scoreboard in left-center field off Mickey Callaway to bring Portland to within two runs in the ninth. Yamid Haad's sacrifice fly to center later in the inning scored Rich Gomez to make it 4-3.

Jeff Guiel's two-run triple to right highlighted Salt Lake's four-run third inning as the Stingers took the early lead.

Alex Fernandez hit a two-out, bases-loaded single to score Khalil Greene to put Portland (49-50) on the board in the eighth inning. Mario Valdez was thrown out at home on the same play.

The Beavers threatened in the fifth by loading the bases with two outs, but Bootcheck got Bernie Castro to fly out to left field to end the inning.

Mike Bynum suffered his sixth straight loss in the start for the Beavers. He allowed the four runs, but only one was earned. Bynum (4-7) struck out five and walked two in six innings.

Phil Nevin, who joined the Beavers on a major league rehab assignment Thursday, went 0-for-2 and played first base before being lifted after five innings.

NOTES: Before the game, the Beavers announced that right-handed pitcher Jaret Wright was recalled by the San Diego Padres and that right-handed pitcher Steve Watkins was transferred to Portland from Class AA Mobile, where he was 5-4 with a 4.26 ERA in 17 starts.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 18, 2003


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