Tankersley leads Beavers to shutout victory

April 24, 2004 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Starter Dennis Tankersley led three Portland pitchers to combine on a five-hit shutout as the Beavers blanked the Tucson Sidewinders 1-0 Friday night at PGE Park.

The Beavers (6-10) were held to just two hits in the game, but came out ahead in the only category that mattered when Alex Fernandez opened the bottom of the second with a walk and scored two batters later on Bobby Scales' double to left-center for the game's only run.

Tankersley (1-2) retired the first nine batters to start the game before issuing a walk to Andy Green and a single to Victor Hall to start the fourth. He then went on to retire 10 of the next 11 before being lifted with one out in the seventh after allowing consecutive base runners.

Reliever Blaine Neal came in for Tankersley and coaxed a double play grounder from Juan Brito to preserve the Beavers' lead.

The Sidewinders (10-5) put runners on first and second again in the eighth, but Jerry Hairston's groundout to Scales at third base ended the inning.

Bart Miadich pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to get his third save.

The Beavers' win spoiled an otherwise outstanding pitching night for Tucson. Greg Aquino was the hard-luck loser by virtue of allowing the second-inning run, but the Beavers had fits trying to get on base thereafter.

Portland managed just two base runners after Scales' double, with one of those coming when Bernie Castro got on base to start the third when Hairston couldn't get a handle on a ground ball at second base. From there, Aquino, Mark Freed, Brian Bruney and Brandon Villafuerte combined to sit down 18 of the next 19 batters.

The Beavers open a four-game series at Salt Lake on Saturday.

NOTES: Scheduled Tucson starter Phil Stockman was held back in favor of Aquino ... Castro, who led the PCL in stolen bases last season, swiped second in the third inning for his first steal in seven games ... the Beavers last 1-0 win came June 22, 2003 vs. Memphis ... the last time Portland was held to two hits was July 1, 2003 at Tacoma ... both Portland wins in the series were shutouts.



Pacific Coast League Stories from April 24, 2004


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