Sweeney gets first win back as Beavers open series with 6-1 victory

Published on June 10, 2005 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Brian Sweeney pocketed his first win since returning to Portland with seven strong innings and Ben Johnson had a solo home run and a double among his three hits to lead the Beavers to a series-opening 6-1 victory over the Tucson Sidewinders in front of 6,780 Thursday night at PGE Park.

Josh Barfield was 3-for-4 with two runs scored for the Beavers, who racked up 11 hits.

Sweeney (1-0) spread a run and six hits over seven innings of work, his longest outing of the season and his first decision in three starts since coming back to the club.

Sweeney, the ace of the 2004 Beavers staff that led the Pacific Coast League in pitching, began the season with Triple-A Durham in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization before re-signing to play for the Beavers on May 26.

Bill Murphy (1-3) took the loss for Tucson (31-30), allowing four runs (3 earned) on six hits in his six innings.

The series continues through the weekend with three big special event games, including Friday afternoon's Businessperson Special and Saturday night's PGE Park fifth-anniversary celebration.

The Beavers (32-28) plated two on a pair of sacrifices in the second. The Sidewinders scored a run in similar fashion in the third, before Johnson clubbed his 12th home run in the bottom of the inning, this one well over the fence in left.

Johnson has homered in four of his last six games and now shares the team lead with Jon Knott.

Michel Hernandez plated Barfield with an RBI single to right in the sixth, and the Beavers tallied single markers in the seventh and eighth.

Kerry Robinson upped his league-leading stolen base total to 26 and extended his current hitting streak to 10 games with an eighth-inning single and subsequent swipe of second.

The Beavers will be hosting a special 12 noon Businessperson Special on Friday against the Sidewinders.

NOTES: Before the game, the Budweiser Clydesdales were on display in front of PGE Park ... shortstop Wilson Valdez, acquired in a trade on Thursday, and left-handed pitcher Scott Stewart, signed as a free agent, both joined the Beavers before the game, but neither played ... Brian Falkenborg pitched the eighth in his return to the club from San Diego.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 10, 2005


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