Stingers Crush the Beavers

Published on June 27, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


SALT LAKE CITY - Alfedo Amezaga crushed two triples and recorded three RBIs Thursday night to lead the Salt Lake Stingers to a 12-2 win over the Portland Beavers.

Every Salt Lake starter had at least one hit as the Stingers handed the Beavers their 18th road loss of the season. Salt Lake scored in each of the game's first four innings, highlighted by a seven-run second.

The Stingers slugged 15 hits, marking the third consecutive night the Beavers allowed 10 or more hits. Barry Wesson went 3-for-4 and Keith Johnson went 2-for-4 for Salt Lake.

With the large lead provided by his offense, Salt Lake starting pitcher Matt Hensley shut down the Beavers to pick up the win. Hensley (4-8), who came into the game sporting a 6.16 ERA, scattered eight hits and allowed two runs in six innings of work.

The Stingers got on the board early against Portland starter Mike Bynum, scoring a first-inning run on Amezaga's RBI triple to right field, but the real damage came in the second.

In that frame, Salt Lake scored seven more times against Bynum, who was making his first start since returning from the disabled list. Wil Nieves, Chone Figgins and Barry Wesson each had RBI singles for the Stingers.

The stingers also notched a couple of extra-base hits in the inning. With one out, Amezaga belted his second triple, scoring two more runners. One batter later, Robb Quinlan crushed a ball over the head of Jermaine Clark and circled the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

Bynum (4-3) lasted only 1.1 innings, but was charged with eight runs. The left-hander allowed eight hits, walked two and struck out one. The Stingers added a third-inning run off Beavers reliever Kevin Walker with a home run by Julio Ramirez, giving the club a 9-0 lead. Walker left the game in the fourth inning, apparently with a blister on his pitching hand.

With the game already out of reach, Salt League tallied three fourth-inning runs, highlighted by a Trent Durrington triple.

Tagg Bozied drove in the Beavers first run when he hit a fifth-inning double to left, scoring Bernie Castro. Portland scored again on Castro's RBI single in the sixth.

Castro led the Beavers with a 3-for-5 night. Alex Fernandez had two hits, including a sixth inning double.

NOTES: Bozied and second baseman Castro were selected to the Pacific Coast League All-Star Team, it was announced Thursday ... infielder Ben Risinger made his Triple-A pitching debut, throwing a 1-2-3 eighth inning ... this season, the Beavers have lost five straight games to the Stingers ...in those games, the Beavers have been outscored 33-9 ... the Stingers brought 11 men to the plate in their seven-run second inning.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 27, 2003


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