Leone ninth inning homer wins it for Portland

Published on April 11, 2006 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Justin Leone blasted a game-winning solo home run in the ninth inning and extended his season-opening hit streak to six games to lead the Portland Beavers to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox Tuesday afternoon at PGE Park.

The home run came with two outs on a 2-2 pitch from Nate Field; two pitches earlier, third baseman Bo Hart, a ninth-inning defensive replacement, had a chance to end the game, but he couldn't track down Leone's pop up in foul ground. It was Leone's fourth home run in his last five games and his second in as many days.

Leone is batting .435 this season and leads the Beavers in hits (10), home runs (4), RBIs (8) and runs scored (8).

Jon Adkins (1-0) worked the top of the ninth to get the win for the Beavers.

Field (0-1), who entered with one out in the bottom of the ninth to face Portland's right-handed batters, suffered the loss.

Tuesday's game was the first of three Art & Science of Baseball School Days at PGE Park and started at 11:05 a.m. to cater to Portland-area elementary, middle school and high school students for a day of education and fun.

The Beavers (4-2) carried a 2-1 lead into the eighth behind a solid start from Tim Stauffer. But the Sky Sox (1-5) rallied to tie it when Omar Quintanilla was hit by a pitch from reliever Aquilino Lopez and later scored on a double by Ryan Spilborghs and a fielding miscue by left fielder Jon Knott.

David Matranga and Paul McAnulty each drove in a run as the Beavers took a 2-0 lead after three innings.

In the seventh, Carlos Rivera reached on a one-out single and scored from first when Juan Melo tripled to the gap in right-center with two outs, cutting the Beavers' lead to 2-1.

Stauffer gave up one run on six hits in 6.2 innings of work but took his second no-decision of the season, despite the strong start.

The teams continue the series at PGE Park Wednesday night at 6:35 p.m.

NOTES: The Sky Sox got a leadoff triple from Sean Barker in the third but stranded him ... Lopez came on with runners on first and third with two outs in the seventh and struck out pinch-hitter Corey Slavik to preserve a 2-1 lead at the time ... the majority of the 2,859 in attendance were students taking part in Tuesday's special event.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 11, 2006


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