Fresno Rallies For Late Comeback, Top Beavers 8-7

Published on July 10, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


FRESNO, Calif. - Travis Ishikawa logged three doubles and three RBIs and Scott McClain tallied three hits of his own, including the game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth to rally the Fresno Grizzlies to an 8-7 come-from-behind win over the Portland Beavers at Chukchansi Park on Wednesday.

The Grizzlies, who were down 7-5 entering their final at-bat, took advantage of a Portland error in the ninth inning to load the bases for Nate Schierholtz, who delivered a game-tying double down the right field line off of Portland closer Edwin Moreno. Ivan Ochoa then scored the game-winning run on a single by McClain.

Moreno (4-2) was credited with his second loss of the season giving up three hits, three runs (two earned) and a walk in the ninth inning, while Fresno's Julio Mateo (3-4) was awarded the win allowing two hits and one run in just two innings of work.

Ishikiawa, McClain and Schierholtz combined for nine hits and seven RBIs for Fresno (43-49), who now has a four-game winning streak against the Beavers.

Will Venable extended his hitting steak to 10 games with a home run and an RBI double and Vince Sinisi clubbed two doubles and a home run of his own to lead Portland (46-45), who out-hit Fresno 14-12.

A total of five Portland batters logged a multiple-hit game, including Craig Stansberry, Brett Dowdy and Shawn Wooten, who each collected a pair of base hits.

With the game tied in the third inning, the Beavers built a 6-3 lead with an RBI single by Dowdy in the third and three-run sixth inning outburst led by a bases-loaded single by Stansberry.

But Fresno answered back with two runs in the sixth inning to chip away at Portland's lead. Schierholtz led off the inning with a single, advanced to third base on an error by Portland starter Josh Geer on a pick off play and then scored on a sacrifice fly by McClain. Later in the inning, Clay Timpner doubled home Ishikawa to trim the Beavers lead 6-4.

Ishikawa drove in his third RBI of the night in the eighth inning on a double into right field to score McClain to cut the Beavers' lead down to a single run 6-5.

Sinisi provided an insurance run with his second home run of the season in the top of the ninth inning to extend Portland's lead 7-5, but the Grizzlies would rally late to take their straight game in the series.

Venable put the Beavers up 1-0 in the top of the first inning with a solo shot to left field. But a two-run double by Ishikawa in the bottom of the frame erased the early lead and gave the Grizzlies a 2-1 advantage.

Back-to-back singles in the third inning by Stansberry and Peter Ciofrone with two outs set the table for Venable, who delivered an RBI double to tie the game at 2-2.

The Beavers conclude their series with the Grizzlies Thursday night at 7:05 p.m.

NOTES: The Beavers announced on Wednesday that right-handed pitcher Edwin Moreno has been added to the PCL All-Star team to replace first baseman Brian Myrow, who was recalled by the Padres on Tuesday ... Ciofrone was 1-for-3 on Wednesday to extend his hitting streak to nine games ... Beavers have scored a run in the first inning in each of the first three games in series against Fresno ... the game-time temperature was 107 degrees.

Beavers Game File WEDNESDAY'S GAME: Fresno 8, Beavers 7 WINNING PITCHER: Mateo (3-4) LOSING PITCHER: Moreno (4-2) SAVE: None HOME RUNS: Venable (8), Sinisi (2) THURSDAY'S GAME: Portland (Justin Germano: 2-5, 5.48) at Fresno (Matt Palmer: 3-8, 4.18), 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 10, 2008


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