Portland wins 8-4 before 8,432

Published on April 3, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Josh Geer allowed just one hit over seven strong innings, and the Portland Beavers opened the 2008 season with an 8-4 victory over the Fresno Grizzlies before 8,432 Thursday night at PGE Park.

Nick Hundley and Chip Ambres each hit a solo home run, and Marshall McDougall added eighth-inning insurance with a pinch-hit, three-run double for the Beavers (1-0), a talented group of prospects that unveiled new uniforms and a sharp style of play under first-year manager Randy Ready.

The attendance for the opener was the third-largest since the team returned to the Pacific Coast League in 2001.

In his second career Triple-A start, Geer (1-0) faced the minimum over the first four innings, retiring the first 10 batters he faced. The right-hander carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning before allowing a solo home run to former Beaver Justin Leone. That's the only hit allowed by Geer, who walked one while striking out four.

Geer is coming off a stellar season at the Class AA level in the San Diego Padres organization. He was the Texas League Pitcher of the Year and Padres Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2007 with the San Antonio Missions.

It was a night of firsts for a young crop of prospects making their Triple-A debut with the Beavers. Hundley cracked a solo homer in his first Triple-A at-bat to start the scoring in the bottom of the second. In the third, Matt Antonelli singled for his first hit above Class AA, stole second, and Chase Headley, the top prospect of the San Diego Padres, made it 2-0 with an RBI single to shallow left.

Antonelli was 2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and two runs scored for the Beavers, who got at least one hit from 10 different players.

Up by a run in the seventh, Ambres clubbed a solo shot midway up the seven-story scoreboard in left-center up Portland's lead to 3-1.

McDougall's three-run double highlighted a five-run eighth inning for the Beavers, who took an 8-1 lead. Fresno tightened the margin with three runs off reliever Jared Wells in the ninth.

Matt Palmer (0-1), who was making his second straight Opening Day start against the Beavers, allowed just two runs and four hits in four innings of work, but was saddled with the loss.

NOTES: Thursday's game was the first of 20 games televised on FSN this season. The next FSN broadcast is Sunday ... the Beavers introduced the team's new mascot, Lucky, as part of the pre-game ceremonies to commemorate Opening Day ... the Beavers are 2-6 on Opening Day since returning to the PCL in 2001. Thursday's game marked just the second time in that span that the team opened the campaign at home ... Leone's solo clout in the fifth inning was his third home run against the Beavers since his departure from the club after the 2006 season ... Geer threw 80 pitches, 53 for strikes ... former Beavers and PCL Hall-of-Famer Eddie Basinski threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 3, 2008


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