
Time Running Out on Beavers
August 28, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release
PORTLAND, Ore. - J.R. Phillips drove in four runs and Adrian Myers added three RBIs as the Tacoma Rainiers held on to play spoiler for the second night in a row with a 9-8 win over the Portland Beavers in front of 6,371 at PGE Park Wednesday night.
Coupled with Edmonton's extra-inning win over Salt Lake, the Beavers (67-72) are now three games out in the North Division with five to play.
The Rainiers (63-77) scored three runs before an out was recorded and later opened up an eight-run lead with a five-run seventh.
The Beavers, however, countered in the bottom of seventh, sending 11 men to plate and trimming the deficit to 9-7 with six runs in the frame. Donaldo Mendez had a three-run home run, Jon Knott drew a bases-loaded walk and Wiki Gonzalez added a two-run single for the Beavers, who left 10 men on base.
Portland loaded the bases in the eighth but couldn't capitalize as Aaron Looper struck out Knott to end the inning. Gonzalez, who was 4-for-4 with two doubles, hit a one-out triple to right field in the ninth and scored the final run on a groundout by Bobby Scales.
Gonzalez scored twice and had two RBIs for the Beavers, who finish their home season Thursday night against the Rainiers.
Brian Sweeney picked up the win, allowing four runs on six hits. Sweeney (11-10) struck out four and walked three. Looper picked up the save, his fifth of the year.
Mike Bynum, who had a 1.76 ERA over his previous five starts, gave up seven runs (four earned) on eight hits in six innings of work to fall to 7-11 on the season. He struck out six and walked a pair.
Jamal Strong drew a leadoff walk to open the game and Chad Meyers followed with a single to set up a three-run home run by Phillips, his second first-inning blast in as many nights. The Rainiers, who sent 10 men to the plate in the inning, made it 4-0 later in the first thanks to an RBI single by Luis Figueroa.
Figueroa added another RBI single in the Rainiers' seventh. Phillips also drove in a run in the inning and Myers capped things with a three-run double.
Knott hit a solo home run in the sixth, his first at the Triple-A level.
NOTES: In his first Triple-A at-bat, Freddy Guzman, who was transferred from Class AA Mobile Wednesday, singled to center to lead of the bottom of the first ... Guzman stole his 88th base later in the inning and swiped his minor league-leading 89th in the seventh ... J.R. Phillips has hit five of his 13 home runs against the Beavers this season ... by going 0-for-5 in the game, Rich Gomez is now 2-for-26 (.077) in his last nine games ... Jason Bay, who was traded to Pittsburgh Monday, was 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored and an RBI in his debut with the Pirates Wednesday night.
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 28, 2003
- Memphis Redbirds Unveil 2004 Home Schedule - Memphis Redbirds
- Missions finally get to Qualls, Express - Round Rock Express
- Williams Puts Up More Zeros In 5-0 Victory - Nashville Sounds
- Koonce Named River Cats' 2003 MVP - Sacramento River Cats
- DeFrancesco Named PCL's Manager of the Year - Sacramento River Cats
- Final 2003 Rainiers Homestand, Fireworks and Food Drive - Tacoma Rainiers
- Koonce Named PCL's Most Valuable Player - Sacramento River Cats
- Express closing in on attendance record - again - Round Rock Express
- Sox Bats Come Alive in 12-11 Win in Iowa - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Expos purchase LHP Vic Darensbourg, option LHP Eric Knott to Edmonton - Edmonton Trappers
- Graham Koonce Named PCL MVP - PCL1
- RedHawks bidding for .500 or better finish - Oklahoma City Comets
- RedHawks close 2003 season with more giveaways - Oklahoma City Comets
- Gettis does in Express - Round Rock Express
- Never Say Die Trappers Win Fourth Straight - Edmonton Trappers
- Time Running Out on Beavers - Portland Beavers
- River Cats match club record with 90th win - Sacramento River Cats
- No-Hit Bid Ends with Three Sacramento Homers - Tucson Sidewinders
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