Portland Avoids Sweep with Win

Published on July 4, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


Tacoma, Wash. - Alex Fernandez went 3-for-4 and had a game-winning RBI single in the eighth inning Thursday night to lead the Portland Beavers to a 6-3 victory over the Tacoma Rainiers.

Portland's win snapped a three-game losing streak and helped the Beavers avoid a four-game sweep at the hands of the Rainiers

Brian Tollberg (3-1) pitched seven strong innings, scattering six hits, to earn the win for Portland. Tollberg allowed three runs, struck out five and walked none.

Following Tollberg's start, the Beavers bullpen shut down the Rainiers. Cliff Bartosh threw a scoreless eighth inning and Brandon Villafurte pitched the ninth to notch his first save of the season.

Tacoma starter Craig Anderson (5-9) took the loss, although he allowed only one earned run. The left-hander fanned two and walked two in seven innings of work.

The Beavers (44-44) jumped to a 2-0 lead in the second inning, thanks to some shoddy defense by Tacoma. Portland took advantage of three errors, including two by shortstop Ruben Castillo, to score two unearned runs.

The Beavers' lead lasted until the bottom of the third when the Rainers scored three times. J.R. Phillips started the rally with a two-RBI double, scoring Jamal Strong and Chad Meyers. Pat Borders followed with a run-scoring single, giving Tacoma a 3-2 advantage.

But Portland came back to knot the score at three with a sixth-inning RBI single by Fernandez, brining home Mark Quinn from second.

In the eighth, after Fernandez hit another run-scoring single, the Beavers made it 5-3 when Rich Gomez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Portland picked up its sixth tally in the ninth when Tagg Bozied belted a one-out double that scored Bernie Castro from third.

Castro had two hits, including a first-inning double, and stole a base for the Beavers.

The Rainiers (38-50) were led by Phillips who went 2-for-4 with two doubles.

Portland returns home Friday night to start a six-game homestand with three games against Edmonton Trappers. Friday's game has a special start time of 6:05 p.m. and will be followed by a fireworks show at PGE Park in honor of Independence Day.

NOTES: Thursday's loss snapped a three-game road losing streak, the Beavers' longest road skid of the season ... Wiki Gonzalez went 0-for-3, ending his seven-game hitting streak.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 4, 2003


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