Venable Homer Helps Beavers Avoid Sweep

Published on July 11, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


FRESNO, Calif. - Will Venable hit a go-ahead, three-run homer and extended his hitting streak to 11 games, and the Portland Beavers beat the Fresno Grizzlies 4-2 in 11 innings to snap a three-game skid and avoid a series sweep Thursday night at Chukchansi Park.

The Beavers carried a 1-0 lead into the ninth and allowed the Grizzlies to tie the game before regrouping for a two-out rally in the 11th to improve to 8-1 in extra innings. Both Craig Stansberry and Peter Ciofrone hit two-out singles, and Venable belted his fourth home run in his last seven games, taking reliever Erick Threets deep to right for a 4-1 lead.

Ciofrone collected two hits, including an RBI double in the fifth, to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. Brett Dowdy and Paul McAnulty also added two hits for the Beavers.

Justin Germano, who suffered a loss in each of his previous three starts, tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and two walks in the start for the Beavers.

Enrique Gonzalez (4-4) worked the final two innings to get the win.

With scoring opportunities at a premium, the Beavers were able to manufacture a run in the fifth. Tom King drew a leadoff walk and moved to second when Germano laid down a sacrifice bunt. After Stansberry lined out to third, Ciofrone's two-out double plated King.

The Beavers clung to that one-run lead until the ninth, when once again Fresno resorted to its late-inning heroics, as Scott McClain reached on a one-out walk and eventually scored from third on a two-out throwing error.

Down by three in the bottom of the 11th, Steve Holm delivered an RBI single and the Grizzlies had the tying run in scoring position with two outs, but Gonzalez got Eli Whiteside to pop out first to end the game.

Matt Downs collected three hits and former Beaver Justin Leone was 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored for the Grizzlies (43-50).

Fresno starter Matt Palmer was sharp, striking out seven and holding the Beavers to a run, four hits and two walks over seven strong innings.

The victory helped the Beavers avoid being swept by the Grizzlies for the first time in eight seasons of play.

On Friday, the Beavers travel to Tucson, where they'll begin a four-game series. First pitch is 7 p.m.

NOTES: The Beavers added McAnulty and pitcher Carlos Guevara to the active roster before the game. By starting in left field, McAnulty became just the seventh Beaver to play in parts of four seasons with the club since its return to the PCL in 2001 ... for the fourth night in a row, it was 100-plus degrees at game time.

Beavers Game File THURSDAY'S GAME: Beavers 4, Fresno 2 (11 innings) WINNING PITCHER: Gonzalez (4-4) LOSING PITCHER: Threets (1-4) SAVE: None HOME RUNS: Venable (9) FRIDAY'S GAME: Portland (Clay Hensley: 1-1, 3.43) at Tucson (Evan MacLane: 5-6, 4.95), 7 p.m.; live audio broadcast on KKAD AM-1550 and www.portlandbeavers.com.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 11, 2008


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