Garko Slam Propels RedHawks To 9-3 Win

Published on May 22, 2010 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Ryan Garko hit a grand slam in the fourth inning and Kevin Richardson added a three-run blast in the fifth to help power the Oklahoma City RedHawks to a 9-3 victory over the Portland Beavers Friday night at PGE Park.

The home runs were the first of the season for Garko and Richardson with the RedHawks (22-19) and quickly turned a 3-0 Beavers lead into an 8-3 deficit within a matter of two innings.

RedHawks reliever Willie Eyre (2-3) entered in the fourth inning and pitched two shutout innings, allowing only one hit and one walk to earn the win.

Sean Kazmar, Craig Cooper and Lance Zawadzki each finished with two hits for the Beavers (18-23), who were unable to tack on any runs after the second inning.

Will Inman (2-2) pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up eight runs (4 earned) on five hits and four walks.

The Beavers wasted little time, pushing a run across in the first inning when Cooper hit a single through the left side of the infield to score Luis Durango from third.

Portland struck for two more runs in the second inning with RBIs from Kazmar and Mike Baxter. After the Beavers loaded the bases with one out, Kazmar hit an RBI single to right field and was immediately followed by Baxter, who hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field to push the lead to 3-0.

The lead was short-lived as the RedHawks jumped ahead of the Beavers with one swing of the bat in the fourth inning when Garko hit a grand slam over the right field fence to give Oklahoma City a 4-3 lead.

Oklahoma City stretched its lead to 8-3 with four more runs in fifth inning, highlighted by an opposite-field three-run home run hit by Richardson.

Chad Tracy drove in the RedHawk's ninth run with a sixth-inning single to center field.

Matt Buschmann pitched 4 1/3 innings of relief for the Beavers, giving up only one run (0 earned) on two hits while striking out four.

RedHawks starter Doug Mathis allowed three runs on five hits in three innings in the no-decision.

The Beavers and RedHawks meet again Saturday at 7:05 p.m. in the third game of their four-game set at PGE Park.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 22, 2010


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