Sidewinders play long ball in win

Published on August 28, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Tucson Sidewinders News Release

Colorado Springs, CO - Jamie D'Antona and Josh Whitesell each hit home runs to highlight a 19 hit outburst by the Sidewinders as they closed their road schedule with a 14-6 win over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox on Thursday night.

D'Antona went 3 for 4 to raise his average to .365, good for 2nd in the PCL. He drove in three. Whitesell's home run was his 25th of the season and he now has 106 RBI, three shy of Lyle Overbay's single season franchise record.

Whitesell's home run gave the Sidewinders a 2-0 lead in the top of the first but the Sky Sox quickly tied the game with two of their own in the bottom of the first. Matt Miler had a RBI single and Jayson Nix doubled in a run.

The Sidewinders took control for good in the second. Frank Curreri's RBI single gave Tucson a 3-2 edge and four runs in the third widened Tucson's edge. D'Antona and Donnie Kelly had RBI hits and Curreri added a sacrifice fly. Two Colorado Springs errors, one by Christian Colonel and one by Cory Sullivan, aided the Sidewinders rally.

Matt Torra earned the win with five innings of work. Torra (5-5) gave up six runs (three earned) on nine hits. He struck out three and walked two.

Justin Upton's RBI triple and D'Antona's RBI single gave the Sidewinders a 9-2 lead in the fourth but Colorado Springs got a pair of runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to make it 9-6.

Former Sidewinder Oscar Villarreal was roughed up by Tucson. Villarreal (1-1) allowed nine runs (seven earned) on 12 hits in just four innings.

The Sidewinders plated five runs in the ninth to turn the game into a blowout. D'Antona's home run to left opened the inning and Robby Hammock, Trent Oeltjen and Phil Avlas also had run scoring hits.

Avlas finished 3 for 6 with a pair of doubles and two RBI. Donnie Kelly went 3 for 5 with two runs and a RBI and Frank Curreri went 3 for 3 with three RBI.

Tucson's bullpen tossed shutout baseball over the final four innings. Doug Slaten retired six of the seven he faced with three strikeouts and Jailen Peguero threw the final two innings for his fifth save of the season.

The Sidewinders return home on Friday night to open their final four game series of the season against the Salt Lake Bees at Tucson Electric Park. Right-hander Max Scherzer (1-1, 2.72) starts for Tucson against right-hander Dustin Moseley (7-9, 6.28) for Salt Lake. First pitch is at 7:00. The game will air live on COOL 1450.

Pacific Coast League Stories from August 28, 2008

• Sidewinders play long ball in win - Tucson Sidewinders
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• Cubs crush Redbirds - Memphis Redbirds
• Angels Recall Wood, Option Bulger to Salt Lake - Salt Lake Bees
• Beavers, Padres Announce Two-Year Extension to Player Development Contract - Portland Beavers
• Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
• Royals Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
• Tropical Storm Gustav Alters Sounds' Final Road Trip Schedule - Nashville Sounds
• KC Extends Working Agreement With Omaha - Omaha Storm Chasers
• Zephyrs Announce Tropical Storm Gustav Plans - New Orleans Baby Cakes
• RedHawks Cruz named PCL Most Valuable Player - PCL1
• Salt Lake River Cats' first-round opponent - Sacramento River Cats
• Bees Clinch Third Consecutive Pacific North Title - Salt Lake Bees
• Sky Sox Walk Away With Win - Tucson Sidewinders
• Salt Lake Clinches North Division Title - Portland Beavers
• Shaun Marcum couldn't quite keep up with Philip Humber's outing as the Rochester Red Wings edged the - Colorado Springs Sky Sox

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