Red-Hot Portland Rides Six Homers, Ninth-Inning Heroics Past Royals

Published on May 6, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


OMAHA, Neb. - Luke Carlin and Matt Antonelli hit back-to-back solo homers and Chip Ambres added a three-run blast during a six-run ninth inning as the surging Portland Beavers came back to beat the Omaha Royals 12-11 Tuesday night at Rosenblatt Stadium.

The Beavers (16-14) matched their eight-year record (since 2001) with six homers in the game - including two from Brian Myrow - helping them win their sixth consecutive game and their ninth in 10 games. Chase Headley hit his third clout of the season for the Beavers, who improved to 14-3 at Rosenblatt Stadium in eight seasons of play there.

Portland trailed 7-6 going into the ninth, but Carlin and Antonelli delivered solo homers against reliever Roberto Giron to overtake the Royals (15-15), who out-hit Portland 18-12. Ambres later padded the lead with his three-run blast against Paul Mildren, runs that proved necessary as the Royals rallied for four runs in the bottom of the ninth and had the tying run at third base and potential winning run at first before Jared Wells coerced a pop up for the final out and his fifth save.

The late-inning fireworks made a winner of Adam Bass (1-1), who gave up one run in two innings of relief. Giron (1-3) suffered the loss after yielding seven runs and five hits in 2 1/3 innings of work.

Antonelli, who was moved into the ninth spot in the batting order, drove in two runs, his first RBIs since April 13. Ambres was 2-for-5 with three RBIs and extended his current hitting streak to 10 games.

Former Beaver David Matranga was 3-for-5 and hit his first home run, and Matt Tupman doubled, homered and drove in three runs for the Royals, who have lost six of their last seven games.

The Beavers had earlier leads of 3-0 and 5-3, but Matranga and Tupman homered as part of a four-run rally that gave Omaha a 7-5 lead in the bottom of the seventh.

Carlin drew a bases-loaded walk and Will Venable scored on a sacrifice fly by Antonelli as the Beavers took a 2-0 lead in the second. Myrow's first home run of the game stretched the lead to three an inning later.

The Royals countered with three runs to tie it in the bottom of the third. Starter Enrique Gonzalez gave up singles to Matt Aviles and Ryan Shealy, and Tupman's RBI double pushed across the first run for Omaha. Gonzalez then uncorked a two-out wild pitch that Carlin had trouble finding behind the plate, allowing Shealy and Tupman to score.

Headley delivered a solo home run in the fifth as the Beaver regained the lead; Craig Stansberry tripled and scored on a sac fly from Jody Gerut in the top of the seventh.

The series continues Wednesday morning at 10:05 a.m. (Pacific).

NOTES: Myrow became the second Portland batter with two homers in a game this season, joining Gerut. It was the 67th multi-homer game for the Beavers since the 2001 campaign ... Carlin and Antonelli teamed up for the 34th incident of back-to-back homers for the Beavers in those eight seasons ... it was the third time the Beavers hit six home runs in a game since rejoining the PCL in 2001 ... Myrow has 10 RBIs in his last five games ... Stansberry has hit safely in six straight games to raise his average to .241 ... Gerut has hit safely in 12 of his last 14 contests ... Carlin has 11 RBIs after tallying just 17 in 98 games with Portland last season.

Beavers Game File

TUESDAY'S GAME: Beavers 12, Omaha 11

WINNING PITCHER: Bass (1-1)

LOSING PITCHER: Giron (1-3)

SAVE: Wells (5)

HOME RUNS: Myrow 2 (5), Headley (3), Carlin (3), Antonelli (3), Ambres (5), Matranga (1), Tupman (4)

WEDNESDAY'S GAME: Portland (Josh Geer: 2-2, 3.97) at Omaha (Jeff Fulchino: 0-0, 3.68), 10:05 a.m. (Pacific); live audio broadcast on KKAD AM-1550 and www.portlandbeavers.com.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Pacific Coast League Stories from May 6, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central