Redbirds Won't Go Away in 11-8 Win over Beavers

June 25, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Jason Bowers belted a three-run home run in the ninth inning to lead the Memphis Redbirds to an 11-8 win Tuesday night over the Portland Beavers in front of 5,784 at PGE Park.

With the win, the Redbirds earned a series split with the Beavers (41-39) in their only trip to Portland this season.

The two teams combined for 31 hits in the game.

Bowers' ninth-inning home run capped an impressive come-from-behind victory for Memphis. The Redbirds erased three separate Beavers' leads, including one of four runs, to pick up the win.

Bowers was 3-for-4 and added three runs for the Redbirds (30-48). Luis Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with four RBIs.

Bowers belted his game-winning homer with two outs in the ninth off Courtney Duncan (2-5), who entered with the game tied. Duncan struck out the first two men he faced, but suffered his third loss of the homestand.

The Redbirds trailed for the most of the game, but continued to pester the Beavers' pitching. Portland took a 2-0 lead in the third inning, but Memphis came back in the fifth to tie the score on Rodriquez's two-out triple.

Portland, led by Alex Fernandez's three-run home run to right field, mounted a four-run rally in the fifth to take a 6-2 lead. But once again, the Redbirds battled back to tie the game, this time by scoring four runs in the seventh.

The game didn't stay tied for long. Portland added two more runs in the seventh on Rich Gomez's two-run single.

But just as soon as Portland took the lead, Memphis started a rally of its own. Led by a sacrifice fly by Rodriquez and an RBI single from Jon Nunnally, the Redbirds knotted the score at 8-8 in the eighth.

Portland has plenty of chances to score more runs, but didn't capitalize. The Beavers left nine men on base.

Portland was led by Alex Pelaez, who went 3-for-5 and tallied two RBIs. First baseman Tagg Bozied had three hits for the Beavers.

Portland has an off day on Wednesday before beginning a four-game series at Salt Lake Thursday.

NOTE: Before Tuesday's game, the Beavers activated pitcher Mike Bynum and placed Ben Howard on the disabled list.



Pacific Coast League Stories from June 25, 2003


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