Rainiers collect two wins to trim division margin

Published on August 22, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Prentice Redman and Jon Nelson hit solo home runs, and Shawn Garrett collected two RBIs to lead the Tacoma Rainiers to a 6-4 victory over the Portland Beavers before 7,648 Friday night at PGE Park.

The win capped a productive evening for the Rainiers (71-62), who finished off Thursday's suspended game prior to Friday's game with an 11-2 win. By virtue of Friday's results, the Rainiers trimmed a game-and-a-half off Salt Lake's division lead.

Peter Ciofrone clubbed two home runs - a solo shot in the fourth and a tying two-run blast in the sixth - and Chip Ambres tripled, doubled and scored twice to lead the Beavers (68-65).

The win went to reliever Randy Messenger (9-4), while former Beaver Jared Wells dodged a Portland rally attempt in the ninth to notch his 19th save of the year. Wells, who started the year with Portland, gave up a single and two walks to load the bases in the final frame before getting out of the jam.

Nelson's solo homer to right-center upped Tacoma's lead to 3-1 in the top of the sixth. But, in the bottom of the inning, Ambres legged out his seventh triple of the season and was aboard when Ciofrone drilled a first-pitch offering from Scott Shoemaker well over the center field fence.

Garrett hit his second RBI groundout of the game and Victor Diaz punched an RBI single through the middle of the infield as the Rainiers went up 5-3 in the seventh. After the Beavers grained a run back in the eighth, Redman added a solo shot off Enrique Gonzalez in the top of the ninth.

Cesar Ramos (9-10) allowed five runs, 10 hits and two walks across 6 1/3 innings to take the loss.

In the opening act, Kevin Howard belted three home runs, Luis Valbuena stole three bases and tallied four hits, and Brandon Morrow struck out 10 in just 4 2/3 innings to lead the way in Thursday's suspended game that was picked up in the bottom of the seventh Friday.

Justin Germano (2-7) suffered his seventh defeat by yielding eight runs (6 earned) and seven hits over five innings.

Tacoma reliever Justin Thomas (1-1) picked up the win in the resumed game and Robert Rohrbaugh worked all three innings for the Rainiers in Friday's portion to get the save.

The Beavers and Rainiers continue their series Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.

NOTES: The Padres optioned catcher Luke Carlin to Portland before the game ... the Beavers have gotten a total of six multi-homer games from five different players this season.

Beavers Game File (suspended game from Thursday night completed Friday) THURSDAY'S GAME: Tacoma 11, Beavers 2 WINNING PITCHER: Thomas (1-1) LOSING PITCHER: Germano (2-7) SAVE: Rohrbaugh (1) HOME RUNS: Howard 3 (9)

Beavers Game File FRIDAY'S GAME: Tacoma 6, Beavers 4 WINNING PITCHER: Messenger (9-4) LOSING PITCHER: Ramos (9-10) SAVE: Wells (19) HOME RUNS: Ciofrone 2 (16), Nelson (3), Redman (15) SATURDAY'S GAME: Tacoma (Rich Dorman: 2-3, 4.55) at Portland (Wade LeBlanc: 10-8, 5.23), 7:05 p.m.; live audio broadcast on KKAD AM-1550 and www.portlandbeavers.com. SATURDAY'S PROMOTION: The fun and fur-flying antics of Reggy, the purple party dude, and his friends make a special appearance at PGE Park. The first 1,903 fans receive a Lucky bobblehead presented by Health Net Insurance on the final Fred Meyer Super Giveaway Saturday of the season. Dr. Doug and Skippy from Charlie 97.1 will throw out the ceremonial first pitch and participate in several in-game activities throughout the night.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 22, 2008


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