Tollberg Takes Beavers into All-Star Break on Victorious Note

Published on July 13, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


TACOMA, Wash. - Starter Brian Tollberg gave up just two hits to pick up his fourth win in his last five starts and Jason Bay and Rich Gomez both hit home runs as the Portland Beavers went on to a 5-1 victory over the Tacoma Rainiers Sunday afternoon.

Tollberg retired 20 of the 22 batters he faced and was touched for just one run on a first-inning solo homer by J.R. Phillips. Tollberg retired 16 straight at one point and struck out three to improve to 4-2 with the Beavers (49-49).

Kevin Walker pitched an out in the seventh and a scoreless eighth to hold the lead and Brandon Villafuerte pitched the ninth to complete the two-hitter.

Adrian Myers singled off Tollberg in the seventh and drew a two-out walk against Villafuerte in the ninth to account for Tacoma's only base runners after Phillips' first-inning home run.

The Beavers added to a two-run lead with a pair of insurance runs in the ninth. Portland blew a two-run advantage in the eighth inning in a 6-4 loss to Tacoma Saturday night.

The Beavers are now off for three days for the Triple-A All-Star break. The team returns to action Thursday, July 17 at PGE Park, as it plays host to the Salt Lake Stingers in a four-game series following the break.

Bay, who is batting .319 with four home runs and six RBIs since rejoining the Beavers July 6, hit a two-run home run to give the Beavers a 2-0 lead in the first inning. The lead was cut in half in the bottom of the inning thanks to Phillips' solo homer.

Gomez, who was 4-for-4 with a stolen base and two runs scored in the game, made it 3-1 with a solo shot in the fourth, his ninth of the season and his fifth home run in his last seven games.

Gomez scored the Beavers' fourth run on an RBI single by Yamid Haad in the ninth. Haad came around to make it 5-1 on a triple by Bernie Castro.

Craig Anderson took the loss, his 10th of the year.

With the win, the Beavers kept pace in the Pacific Coast League North Division as first-place Edmonton defeated Fresno, 2-0, Sunday. Portland is two games back in the division.

NOTES: Khalil Greene did not play in Sunday's game at Tacoma--instead he participated in the All-Star Futures Game at US Cellular Field in Chicago ... Portland manager Rick Sweet, first baseman Tagg Bozied and second baseman Bernie Castro will travel to Memphis, Tenn., Monday to participate in the Triple-A All-Star game that will take place Wednesday at AutoZone Park ... on Sunday, the San Diego Padres traded former Beaver Matt Herges, a right-handed pitcher, to the San Francisco Giants for right-handed minor leaguer Clay Hensley and a player to be named or cash considerations ... Herges was 0-0 with a 1.80 ERA (1er, 5.0ip) in four appearances this April with Portland ... bad hair cuts take note: this coming Thursday's game at PGE Park is "Tribute to Mullets Night."

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 13, 2003


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