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Seven-Run Eighth Nets Comeback Win For Beavers

April 19, 2009 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Will Venable hit a three-run triple, Kyle Blanks hit a go-ahead RBI single and Eliezer Alfonzo clubbed a three-run homer as the Portland Beavers used a seven-run eighth inning to beat the Fresno Grizzlies 8-5 Sunday afternoon before 4,843 at PGE Park.

The Beavers, who trailed 4-0 early, have won three straight and four of their last five and are a perfect 3-0 at home thus far.

After getting a run back on the sixth, Portland (7-4) loaded the bases with no outs to spark the eighth-inning rally. Venable then cleared the bases by lacing a line drive over the head of center fielder Mike McBryde and scoring the go-ahead run one batter later when Blanks poked a single to left. With Blanks and Chad Huffman aboard and two outs in the inning, Alfonzo narrowly cleared the left field wall with his first home run of the year to cap the seven-run frame.

Joe Thatcher (1-0) worked one scoreless inning for the win, while Keiichi Yabu (0-1) took the loss for the Grizzlies (2-9).

The Portland comeback spoiled a solid outing from Fresno starter Matt Kinney, who retired the first 13 batters and 17 of the first 18 to start the game. Kinney struck out six in six innings and limited the Beavers to one run on four hits in his second start against the Beavers this season.

His counterpart, Portland's Mike Watt, was making his Triple-A debut after being transferred from Class A Fort Wayne before the game. Watt allowed four runs, four six hits and two walks in his three innings; he was making a spot start in place of Josh Geer, who took a no-decision for the Padres in seven strong innings of work after being recalled earlier in the day.

Brian Horwitz belted a two-run homer to left off Watt in the second to give the Grizzlies the lead. Back-to-back triples by McBryde and Clay Timpner and an RBI groundout by Kevin Frandsen extended Fresno's lead to 4-0 in the top of the third.

The Beavers got on the board in the sixth with consecutive two-out doubles from Drew Macias and Emil Brown.

The Beavers conclude their series with the Grizzlies Monday night at 7:05 p.m.

Beavers Game File
SUNDAY'S GAME: Beavers 8, Fresno 5
WINNING PITCHER: Thatcher (1-0)
LOSING PITCHER: Yabu (0-1)
SAVE: None
HOME RUNS: Alfonzo (1), Horwitz (1)
MONDAY'S GAME: Fresno (Kevin Pucetas: 0-1, 6.30) at Portland (Cesar Ramos: 1-0, 2.00), 7:05 p.m.; live audio broadcast on KKAD AM-1550 and www.portlandbeavers.com. Follow the Beavers on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PortlandBeavers.



Pacific Coast League Stories from April 19, 2009


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