Diaz' six-hit night spoils spotlight in Royals' 16-8 rout of Beavers

Published on July 28, 2005 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Matt Diaz went 6-for-6 and came a home run shy of hitting for the cycle to highlight a 20-hit effort as the Omaha Royals powered their way to a 16-8 victory over the Portland Beavers Wednesday night at PGE Park.

Diaz (DYE-azz), who was born in Portland, had three cracks at hitting a home run to complete the cycle, but instead settled for a triple, a pair of doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored to go with his three singles.

"Obviously, it was a surprise," Diaz said of his six-hit game. "You don't go into a game thinking you are going to get six."

After the game, Diaz admitted he had eyes on the elusive home run.

"You know," he said, "I gave myself one pitch that (last) at-bat and tried to come unglued, and it didn't work out so well."

Paul Phillips had three hits and three runs and was one of three Royals with a home run on the night, a list that also included Aaron Guiel and Calvin Pickering, whose three-run blast capped a five-run seventh for Omaha.

The Royals (46-59) had an early 4-0 lead go by the wayside before pouring it on after the Beavers (51-53) rallied to tie it in the third.

Danny Tamayo (5-7) stuck around long enough for the win, despite allowing six runs (5 earned) on nine hits.

Chris Oxspring took the brunt of the damage for the Beavers, falling to 7-6 after the Royals got to him for eight runs on 10 hits before his exit in the fifth.

Ben Johnson tied a Beavers' five-year franchise record by hitting safely in his 17th straight game with the club.

The Beavers were hurt by one big swing and a spate of sloppy play to fall behind 4-0 in the top of the first. Adrian Brown led off the game with an infield single and was aboard when Guiel planted his 24th home run of the year well beyond the wall in right. Later, Justin Gemoll and Phillips reached base and, with two outs, both wound up scoring as the result of two costly wild pitches by Oxspring.

Miguel Ojeda walked and Dustin Delucchi doubled to set the table for the Beavers in the third. Bobby Scales and Josh Barfield followed with RBI singles to cut the deficit in half. Later, Jon Knott squared things at 4-4 with a two-out single that scored Barfield and Paul McAnulty.

The tie was short-lived, though. Phillips led off the fourth with a solo home run against Oxspring. Chad Santos reached on a one-out single up the middle and Brown's two-out double over the head of Johnson in center field made it 6-4 in favor of the Royals.

It was more trouble for the Beavers in the fifth. After Diaz tripled to lead off, Oxspring retired Pickering but was taken out after surrendering an RBI double to Gemoll, who later scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch by reliever Brandon Emanuel. Luis Ugueto added a two-run, ground-rule double with two outs for a 10-4 advantage.

Bobby Scales continued to build on a career year power-wise, clubbing his 13th home run in the fifth.

The Beavers chipped away again the sixth, this time getting a run when Delucchi singled home Sean Burroughs.

Delucchi was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles to lead the Beavers.

The Beavers play host to the Royals again Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. Thursday's promotion is Mullet Night, as the Beavers pay tribute to the classic hairdo with between-innings promotions and musical tributes.

NOTES: Emanuel's appearance was his first out of the pen since June 30. He made four starts for the team between relief appearances ... Diaz' six-hit game was the first for the O-Royals since 1999 ... Beavers pitchers combined for four wild pitches on the night.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 28, 2005


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