The Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League (MLB 2001)

[Questdog]

Friday, April 11, 2003

Portland Beavers (2-1 .667 tied for 1st place (with 4 other teams) in the PCL West) at
Milwaukee Brewers (1-2 .333 1 GB tied for 5th place in the PCL East)

POR: Rondey Moe (27-R 6-8 2.86 last year) vs. MIL: John Richardson (34-L 5-8 6.28 last year)

Richardson was 15-8 with a 3.90 ERA in 2001. He gave up 17 HR in 90.1 IP last year. 3 of them were to us. He went 0-1 in 2 starts versus the Beavers last year, but did not pitch well in either game. He gave us 4 runs in 2 IP in the no decision. First lefty we have faced this season.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS)
PORTLAND
1: CF Jack Hinckley (27-R .000-2-0-0-.000)
2: 2B Juan Rojas (24-S .222-9-0-1-.586)
3: 3B Fernando Mexicano (22-L .250-12-0-0-.667) Silver Slugger
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (26-R .300-10-0-2-.664) Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star(MVP)/Gold Glove(01)
5: C Jim Shippy (32-R .091-11-0-2-.182)
6: LF Kim Springer (22-L .182-11-0-0-.364)
7: SS Dave Risinger (27-R .091-11-0-0-.364)
8: RF Jerry Suazo (28-L .231-13-0-0-.462)
9: P Rondey Moe (27-L Season debut)

MILWAUKEE
1: 3B Antonio Flores (27-L .333-12-0-2-.833)
2: LF Dong-hak Shong (24-L .545-11-1-3-1.492)
3: 2B Gregg Hobbs (29-R .333-9-0-0-.833) Silver Slugger(01)/All-Star(01)
4: 1B Steve Quakenbush (22-L .100-10-0-1-.267) Rookie
5: SS Fernando Medina (31-S .000-12-0-0-.000) 2-time Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star
6: C Stan Babik (24-R .500-4-0-0-1.000)
7: RF Bob Wick (30-R .000-9-0-0-.000)
8: CF Ken Esh (30-L .000-1-0-0-.000) FA from Houston
9: P John Richardson (34-L Season debut)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Milwaukee County Stadium
Weather: 50 F, Clear Skies, with a 13 MPH wind blowing in from center
Attendance: 21,279

Top of the First:
Jack Hinckley grounds out to 1st, 3-1. Juan Rojas swings at the first pitch and beats out an infield hit. Fernando Mexicano hits a home run to left!! 2 to 0, Beavers! Glenn Snowden doubles to left center. Jim Shippy strikes out... Kim Springer swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 1st, 3-1.

Bottom of the First:
Antonio Flores grounds out to 2nd. Dong-hak Shong takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Gregg Hobbs grounds into a 6-4-3 double play!!

Top of the Third:
Jack Hinckley lines a hit to right and then steals 2nd. Juan Rojas swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 2nd and Hinckley goes to 3rd. Runner on 3rd and less than 2 outs... With the infield in, Fernando Mexicano lines a hit over the shortstop's head and Hinckley scores! 3 to 0, Beavers! Glenn Snowden grounds one slowly to 3rd and Antonio Flores cannot find the handle! E-5. Jim Shippy takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with 1 out. Kim Springer grounds into a force at home, 3-2. Dave Risinger puts a charge into one to center and just misses a Grand Slam. The ball hits off the top of the wall and bounces away from Ken Esh and Risinger ends up with a 3 run triple!!! 6 to 0, Beavers! Jerry Suazo grounds out to the pitcher...

Top of the Fifth:
On the Hill: Lazaro Mendoza (25-R), beginning his second inning of work after a perfect 4th and making his Major League debut. Fernando Mexicano absolutely crushes one to right center! 456 ft.! 7 to 0, Beavers! 2 home runs today!

Bottom of the Fifth:
Fernando Medina leads off and grounds a hit to left, the first of the season for him and the first of the day for the Brewers. Stan Babik lines out to right and Jerry Suazo doubles Medina off at 1st!!

Top of the Seventh:
Jack Hinckley walks on 4 pitches and Juan Rojas lines a hit to left. Fernando Mexicano, who is sporting a mustache this year, walks on 4 pitches to load them up with no outs. Glenn Snowden pops out to right and the runners hold... Jim Shippy flies out to right and Hinckley holds at 3rd for some reason... Wick does not have that great an arm for a right fielder... Kim Springer swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit to center and 2 runs score! 9 to 0, Beavers! Dave Risinger flies out to center.

Bottom of the Seventh:
With 1 out, Stan Babik gets hit by a pitch. Bob Wick grounds into a force at 2nd, 5-4, and Babik is hurt. Ken Esh hits one to the gap in right center and races around the bases with an inside the park home run... 9 to 2, Beavers.

Top of the Eighth:
With 2 outs, Jack Hinckley and Juan Rojas both single. There is no one in the Brewer Pen warming up. They are making this poor kid take one for the team in his Major League debut... A wild pitch moves the runners up and Fernando Mexicano occupies the vacant base with a walk. Glenn Snowden swings a the first pitch and puts it over the fence in right for a Grand Slam!!!! 13 to 2, Beavers. C Rick Mansoor (29-R), in his season debut, draws a walk. LF Larry Ballard (24-L) grounds out to 1st, unassisted.

Won - 13 to 3

We had 14 hits and made no errors
Milwaukee had 7 hits and made 1 error

Rondey Moe (W 1-0) went 7 innings, allowed 2 runs, 4 hits, 1 home run (ITP), 4 walks, 1 HBP and struck out 3.
RHP Rich Larkin, in his season debut, went 1 inning, allowed 1 run, 2 hits, 1 walk and struck out 2.
Denny Jennissen went 1 scoreless inning, allowed 1 hit and 1 walk and struck out 1.

John Richardson (L 0-1) went 3 innings, gave us 6 runs (3 earned), 6 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk and struck out 1.

CF Jack Hinckley had 2 hits and a walk, stole a base and scored 3 runs. 2B Juan Rojas had 3 hits and scored 3 runs. 3B Fernando Mexicano was 3 for 3 with 2 home runs and 2 walks, scored 3 runs and had 4 RBI. 1B Glenn Snowden hit a double and a Grand Slam and scored twice. LF Kim Springer had a hit, scored a run and had 2 RBI. SS Dave Risinger hit a 3 run triple. PH Carlos Lopez had his first hit as a Beaver. PH/RF Brian Mitchell had a hit.

The Brewers announced that C Stan Babik had a sore elbow that would likely bother him for 3 or 4 weeks.

[Questdog]

Saturday, April 12, 2002

Portland Beavers (3-1 .750 tied for 1st place (with 2 other teams) in the PCL West) at
Milwaukee Brewers (1-3 .250 2 GB tied for 5th (last) place in the PCL East)

POR: Bill Woodward (22-R 17-11 2.85 last year in B Ball) Major League debut vs. MIL: Oscar Rios (32-L 4-14 4.61 last year)

Woodward is making his Major League debut. Cross your fingers...

Rios was signed as a free agent from Hollywood. He only won 4 games for them last year, but two of them were against the Beavers and one was a shutout... We did whoop up on him the last time we faced him.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS)
PORTLAND
1: CF Jack Hinckley (27-R .286-7-0-0-.661)
2: 2B Juan Rojas (24-S .333-15-0-1-.745)
3: 3B Fernando Mexicano (22-L .400-15-2-4-1.404) Silver Slugger
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (26-R .333-15-1-6-.975) Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star(MVP)/Gold Glove(01)
5: C Jim Shippy (32-R .071-14-0-2-.205)
6: LF Kim Springer (22-L .200-15-0-2-.400)
7: SS Dave Risinger (27-R .125-16-0-3-.500)
8: RF Jerry Suazo (28-L .176-17-0-0-.353)
9: P Bill Woodward (22-R Major League debut) Rookie

MILWAUKEE
1: 3B Antonio Flores (27-L .267-15-0-2-.667)
2: LF Dong-hak Shong (24-L .538-13-1-3-1.493)
3: 2B Gregg Hobbs (29-R .231-13-0-0-.643) Silver Slugger(01)/All-Star(01)
4: C Larry McNeil (27-R .444-9-0-1-.889)
5: 1B Steve Quakenbush (22-L .077-13-0-1-.264) Rookie
6: SS Fernando Medina (31-S .125-16-0-0-.250) 2-time Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star
7: RF Ken Esh (30-L .200-5-1-2-1.000)
8: CF Miguel Aguilar (33-L .091-11-0-0-.348)
9: P Oscar Rios (32-L Season debut) FA from Hollywood

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Milwaukee County Stadium
Weather: 58 F, Clear Skies, with a 12 MPH wind blowing right to left
Attendance: 19,502

Top of the First:
Jack Hinckley grounds out to 3rd. Juan Rios grounds out to short. Fernando Mexicano grounds out to 2nd.... Around the World!

Bottom of the First:
Antonio Flores swings at P Bill Woodward's first Major League pitch and misses! He swings at the second pitch and grounds a hit up the middle... Dong-hak Shong lines a hit to left and Flores goes to 3rd. Gregg Hobbs grounds a hit to right and Flores scores and Shong heads to 3rd, but Jerry Suazo throws him out! 1 to 0, Brewers. That's already two base runner kills for Suazo this season! Larry McNeil grounds into a 5-4-3 double play!

Top of the Second:
With 1 out, Jim Shippy grounds a hit to center. With 2 outs, Dave Risinger doubles to right center and Shippy scores and Risinger ends up on 3rd! Tie Game: 1 to 1. Jerry Suazo strikes out looking...

Through 5 innings, we have 2 hits off this bum...

Top of the Seventh:
Glenn Snowden lines a 3-2 pitch to center for a hit and Jim Shippy draws a walk. Kim Springer grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6, and Snowden goes to 3rd. Dave Risinger strikes out with a runner on 3rd and less than two outs.... That is 7 strikeouts for P Oscar Rios, who averaged 4.3/9 last year... Jerry Suazo pops out to center...

Top of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Jack Gilbert (29-L), their closer this year, who they claimed off waivers from Denver in January. 3-4-5 hitters up for us. Fernando Mexicano doubles to right center! Glenn Snowden is walked intentionally. Jim Shippy grounds into a 5-4-3 double play and Mexicano goes to 3rd... Shippy may not last to the All-Star break as our starting catcher... Kim Springer strikes out looking....

Bottom of the Ninth:
On the Hill: Jon Weekley (27-R), after getting 2 outs in the 8th. They go down in order!

Extras!

First time in 2003!

Top of the Tenth:
We go down in order....

Bottom of the Tenth:
New Pitcher: Vic Kyzer (24-L). They go down in order with 2 strikeouts!

Top of the Eleventh:
New Pitcher: Charlie Woods (30-R), who has 2 scoreless innings under his belt this year and had a 2.95 ERA in 100.2 IP last year. With 2 outs, Fernando Mexicano reaches when rookie 1B Steve Quakenbush boots his ground ball. But P Woods picks him off....

Bottom of the Eleventh:
Brian Mitchell (22-L), who struck out pinch-hitting last inning, stays in the game to play center. 2-3-4 up for them and I am eying Greg Hobbs there at the #3 spot, who is still looking for his first home run of the season... But they go down in order!!

Top of the Twelfth:
Glenn Snowden draws a walk. Jim Shippy grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6. Kim Springer does the same... And Shippy is limping back to the dugout... And I have already used C Rick Mansoor (29-R) this game... Dave Risinger swings at a 3-2 pitch for strike three....

Bottom of the Twelfth:
A.J. Lee is in to catch.... Steve Quakenbush doubles to right center... We walk Fernando Medina intentionally. This inning belongs to P Kyzer... RF Bob Goemaat (22-L), a rookie who is 1 for 3 on the season, swings at the first pitch and grounds into a force at 2nd, 3-6, and Quakenbush goes to 3rd. CF Bob Wick (30-R), who is 0 for 13 on the season, pops out to center and Quakenbush holds at 3rd. 2 outs. PH Carlos Rice (24-R), 1 for 3 on the season, swings at a 3-2 pitch and flies out to left!! I am starting to like this Kyzer Kid!

Top of the Thirteenth:
New Pitcher: Juan Romero (27-R) with 1 scoreless inning this year. 2.90 ERA in 71.1 IP last year. We go down in order...

Bottom of the Thirteenth:
New Pitcher: Rich Larkin (23-R), who gave up a run in his only inning so far this season. Top of their order up and Greg Hobbs at #3... They go down in order with 2B Juan Rojas making a highlight reel play!

Top of the Fourteenth:
2-3-4 up for is.... Now is the time... With 1 out, Fernando Mexicano takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. He gets caught stealing.... Really?! THIS is when you decide to steal? Glenn Snowden grounds a hit to center. A.J. Lee, in his first AB as a Beaver, grounds out to 3rd...

Bottom of the Fourteenth:
Larry McNeil leads off with a home run to left on an 0-2 pitch....

Lost - 2 to 1

We had 6 hits and made no errors
Milwaukee had 9 hits and made 1 error

We struck out 11 more times...

Brian Mitchell only struck out 39 times in 381 AB as a rookie last year; he has 5 SO in 14 AB this year. Jerry Suazo struck out 73 times last year in 563 AB with 73 BB; so far as a Beaver, he has no walks and 6 SO in 22 AB. Kim Springer struck out 36 time in 416 AB for Vancouver (A) last year and 18 times in 136 AB for Portland; He has no walks and 7 SO in 20 AB this season. Juan Rojas struck out 55 times in 372 AB last year; he has 6 in 21 AB this, a rate double that of last year.... 8.8 per game as a team so far this season....

Editor's Note: With the changes I made to the modifiers, strikeouts should actually be down very slightly this season over last year... And they are down league-wide: 5.6 per game to 5.3... 5.5 is the goal and I am confident we will be around there by season's end. I edge to the high side of my estimates on K's, because having a few too many is better than having too few.

Bill Woodward, in his Major League debut, went 7 innings, allowed 1 run, 7 hits, 2 walks and struck out 1. 110 pitches. Not the pretties debut ever, but it worked...
LHP Victor Alvarez faced 2 batter and got 1 out and walked 1.
RHP Jon Weekley went 1.2 perfect inning and struck out 1.
LHP Vic Kyzer went 3 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit, 1 walk (INT) and struck out 3.
RHP Rich Larkin (L 0-1) went 1+ inning, allowed 1 run, 1 hit, a home run and struck out 1.

Oscar Rios, the bum that stinks against everyone but us, went 8 innings, gave us 1 run, 4 hits, 1 walk and struck out 7. 121 pitches.
RHP Juan Romero (W 1-0) went 2 scoreless innings, gave us 1 hit, 1 walk and struck out 1.

CF Jack Hinckley hit a double. 3B Fernando Mexicano hit a double and drew a walk. 1B Glenn Snowden had 2 hits and 2 walks (1 INT). C Jim Shippy had a hit and a walk and scored our only run. SS Dave Risinger hit a double and had our only RBI.

Trudy the Trainer's report on C Jim Shippy is just a mild shoulder stain that should be fine in a few days. Why did he have to come out of the game, then, when I had no more catchers to put in? Tell me that, Trudy!

[Questdog]

Sunday, April 13, 2003

Portland Beavers (3-2 .600 1 GB tied for 2nd place in the PCL West) at
Milwaukee Brewers (2-3 .400 2 GB tied for 3rd place in the PCL East)

POR: Bobby Johnson (23-R 0-1 5.40) vs. MIL: George Wiedemann (26-R 0-1 2.08)

Let's hope Johnson is better than on Opening Day...

Wiedemann was acquired in a trade with Kansas City in January for 2B Steve Hermanson (25-S). He was 13-6 with a 2.90 ERA last year. he pitches to contact, so if we strike out a bunch of times today, I am calling foul....

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS)
PORTLAND
1: RF Jerry Suazo (28-L .136-22-0-0-.273)
2: CF Brian Mitchell (22-L .286-14-0-1-.619)
3: LF Kim Springer (22-L .150-20-0-2-.300)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (26-R .368-19-1-6-1.033) Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star(MVP)/Gold Glove(01)
5: 3B Fernando Mexicano (22-L .350-20-2-4-1.235) Silver Slugger
6: C Rick Mansoor (29-R .000-1-0-0-.500)
7: SS Dave Risinger (27-R .143-21-0-4-.524)
8: 2B Juan Rojas (24-S .238-21-0-1-.542)
9: P Bobby Johnson (23-R .000-1-0-0-.000)

MILWAUKEE
1: 3B Antonio Flores (27-L .316-19-0-2-.737)
2: LF Dong-hak Shong (24-L .444-18-1-3-1.232)
3: 2B Gregg Hobbs (29-R .211-19-0-1-.558) Silver Slugger(01)/All-Star(01)
4: 1B Steve Quakenbush (22-L .167-18-0-1-.460) Rookie
5: SS Fernando Medina (31-S .150-20-0-0-.340) 2-time Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star
6: C Stan Babik (24-R .286-7-0-0-.661) Sore elbow
7: RF Bob Wick (30-R .000-14-0-0-.000)
8: CF Miguel Aguilar (33-L .154-13-0-0-.497)
9: P George Wiedemann (26-R .000-3-0-0-.000) Trade from Kansas City

Game Start: 1:05 PM
Ballpark: Milwaukee County Stadium
Weather: 49 F, Clear Skies, with a 13 MPH wind blowing in from center
Attendance: 18,976

Top of the First:
Jerry Suazo grounds out to 1st, unassisted. Did I waste $575,000 or is he just off to a slow start? Brian Mitchell grounds out to 2nd. Kim Springer pops out to center... At least we did not strike out....

Bottom of the First:
Antonio Flores strikes out! Dong-hak Shong swings at the first pitch and doubles off the left center field wall. Greg Hobbs pops one up to shallow right and Jerry Suazo, who had him played deep, rushes in and makes a diving catch! He ain't hittin', but he is playin' D! Steve Quakenbush walks on 4 pitches.... Fernando Medina strikes out looking!

Top of the Second:
With 1 out, Fernando Mexicano hits one 433 ft. to right center! 1 to 0, Beavers!

Bottom of the Second:
Stan Babik takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. That is 6 walks in 6.1 IP for a pitcher who has averaged 2.1 per 9 over the last two seasons.... Bob Wick grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6, and then steals 2nd. Miguel Aguilar grounds one to 1st and Glenn Snowden boots it.... 2 errors already in 6 games. 20 errors last year and on pace for 50+ this year! P George Wiedemann bunts Aguilar to 2nd and Wick holds at 3rd. 2 outs. Antonio Flores strikes out!

Top of the Third:
P Bobby Johnson leads off with a double down the right field line! Jerry Suazo grounds out to 1st, unassisted, and P Johnson goes to 3rd. Runner on 3rd with less than 2 outs... Brian Mitchell flies out to right and P Johnson holds.... Kim Springer strikes out looking....

Bottom of the Third:
Dong-hak Shong leads off with a hit. He is now hitting .500 on the season. With 1 out, Steve Quakenbush grounds a hit to right and Shong beats the throw to 3rd. Fernando Medina pops one in foul ground on the right side and Glenn Snowden drops it for error #2 today and #3 on the season. He is now on pace for 80+! Given a second chance, Medina grounds into a 4-6-3 double play! So, that was a GOOD error!

Bottom of the Fifth:
Antonio Flores leads off with a walk... He goes to 2nd on a ground out. With 2 outs, Steve Quakenbush walks... That's 5 walks today for P Bobby Johnson.... That matches his career high from his rookie season. 4 was the most he had in a game last year and he has had at least 4 in each of his starts this season... Fernando Medina lines a hit to left and Flores scores. Tie Game: 1 to 1. Stan Babik walks to load the bases up with 2 outs... What is going on here?! The Bullpen is up. P Johnson is at 98 pitches... Bob Wick swings at a 3-2 pitch and strikes out. That is 7 strikeouts for P Johnson. Also uncharacteristic of him...

Bottom of the Sixth:
Miguel Aguilar leads off with a hit. The Bullpen is up. P George Wiedemann bunts the runner to 2nd. Antonio Flores singles and runners are at the corners with 1 out... Call to the Bullpen: Victor Alvarez (29-L). A wild pitch scores Aguilar... 2 to 1, Brewers. Dong-hak Shong walks... Call to the Bullpen: Jon Weekley (27-R). Greg Hobbs walks on 4 pitches to load the bases up... Steve Quakenbush walks to force in a run.... That is 9 walks by our pitchers and we are only 1 out into the 6th inning! I am going to go find something or someone to punch....

Lost - 6 to 1

A promising beginning to the weak fizzles out in frustration...
For the week we scored 12 total runs in 5 of the games and 13 in the other.

We had 5 whole hits and made 2 errors (Thanks Snowden!)
Milwaukee had 10 hits and made no errors

9 walks by are pitchers....

Bobby Johnson (L 0-2) went 5.1 innings, allowed 3 runs, 6 hits, 6 walks and struck out 7. 110 pitches. At bat, he hit a double.
LHP Victor Alvarez faced 1 batter, threw a WP to allow a run to score and walked the batter and he scored, too...
RHP Jon Weekley went 1 inning, allowed 2 runs, 3 hits, 2 walks and struck out 1.
RHP Roy Huls faced 1 batters and got them out.
RHP Denny Jennissen went 1 scoreless inning and allowed a hit.

George Wiedemann (W 1-1) went 9 innings (CG), gave us 1 run, 5 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk and struck out 4. At bat, he had a hit.

LF Kim Springer hit a double. 3B Fernando Mexicano hit his 3rd home run of the season.

For Milwaukee, rookie 1B Steve Quakenbush had a hit and 3 walks and an RBI. SS Fernando Medina busted out of his season opening slump with 3 hits and 3 RBI.

[Questdog]

April 14, 2003

Monday Morning Report
NL Player of the Week - Gerry Hawkins, CF, Chicago (23-L .467/.500/.700) Had 14 hits with 4 2B, 1 HR, 4 SB, 0 CS, 2 BB, 3 SO, 5 R and 7 RBI in 6 G
PCL Player of the Week - Bill Webber, 2B/SS, San Francisco (26-S .423/.444/.769) Had 11 hits with 3 2B, 2 HR, 1 BB, 4 SO, 6 R and 5 RBI in 6 G (2nd career PoW)

(Slash lines are for the season, not the week)

April 7 - Raul Alvarado (27-L) of Montreal pitched a 4 hit shutout on Opening Day at home versus Toronto. He walked 3 and struck out 11.
April 8 - Bill Foley (27-R) of Seattle pitched a 3 hit shutout at Oakland. He walked 6 and struck out 5. 134 pitches thrown. At bat, he had a hit and an RBI.
April 10 - 2B Tony Shirey (22-R) of Washington had 2 hits with a home run and 5 RBI at home versus Cincinnati. The Nationals won, 9 to 3.
April 10 - LF Don Long (31-R) of Miami had 5 hits, scored a run and had 2 RBI at home versus Baltimore. The Marlins won, 8 to 7, in 14 innings.
April 11 - Glen Hebert (25-R) pitched a 3 hit shutout at home versus Detroit. He walked 3 and struck out 9. At bat, he hit 2 doubles, scored a run and had an RBI.
April 12 - Houston lost SP John Guss (31-R) for the season with a torn labrum. They spent $1.56 million for 9 IP this season... And they will pay him $1.56 million a year through 2007.
April 12 - Greg Ware (26-L) of Oakland pitched a 4 hit shutout at home versus Denver. He walked 4 and struck out 11. The Oaks won, 1 to 0, and only had 5 hits themselves, but 1 was a home run by 3B Jeff Galka (34-R).
April 13 - Sergio Peralta (28-R) of Kansas City pitched a 3 hit shutout at San Diego. He did not walk a batter and struck out 7. 90 pitches thrown. The Royals won, 2 to 0.
April 13 - CF Steve Koenig (27-R) of Detroit had 3 hits with a double and 5 RBI at Brooklyn. The Tigers won, 8 to 1.
April 13 - Jim Cortese (29-R) of Montreal pitched a 5 hit shutout at home versus Atlanta. He walked 1 and struck out 2. The Expos won, 1 to 0, and only had 3 hits themselves, but one was a home run by RF Rick Herrin (25-L).

[Questdog]

Monday, April 14, 2003

We are back home to play Minnesota a 4 game series before heading off on a California road trip. The Twins lost 4 of 4 at home to Sacramento over the weekend. We were 4-4 against them last year and 2-6 in 2001. After a week of games, they are tied for 3rd in scoring in the PCL with 4.83 runs per game (Portland is tied for 7th with 4.17). The San Francisco Seals have hit 13 HR in 6 G. No one else has more than 6. The Twins have 4 and we have 5. Hollywood has not hit any. The Twins are 14th in fewest runs allowed with 5.83 per game (Portland is tied for 6th with 3.50). Their run differential is -6 and ours is +4.

Minnesota Twins (3-3 .500 2 GB tied for 2nd place in the PCL East) at
Portland Beavers (3-3 .500 1 GB tied for 4th place in the PCL West)

MIN: Jeff McKeeman (31-R 18-5 3.18 last year) vs. POR: Steve Muir (28-R 1-0 2.25)

Wish I had a #5 starter that was 18-5.... McKeeman is making his season debut today. He was 1-0 in 2 starts against us last year, going 7 innings in each game.

Muir only gave up 3 hits in 8 IP in his first start, but walked 3 and gave up a home run and 2 runs.

New feature in the lineup! The DEF # after OPS is a subjective estimate of the player's defensive prowess at the position he is playing today. The numbers are supplied by our scouting director, Oscar Cervantes. The rating is a score out of 100. Some exceptional players will get scores higher than 100.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
MINNESOTA
1: 3B Larry Murphy (23-R .250-24-1-4-.792 87) 7 R
2: SS Dick Henry (25-S .364-22-2-6-1.144 89)
3: 2B Dave Macnaughton (30-R .250-20-0-6-.698 80) All-Star
4: CF Marco Manga (23-L .348-23-0-0-.922 64) All-Star
5: C Dave Kiehne (28-R .174-23-0-2-.414 80)
6: RF Larry Kelm (27-R .150-20-0-2-.332 80)
7: 1B Dave Metcalf (27-R .250-16-0-1-.600 97)
8: LF Dick Turner (27-R .200-5-0-0-.400 115)
9: P Jeff McKeeman (31-R Season debut 42)

PORTLAND
1: RF Jerry Suazo (28-L .154-26-0-0-.308 91) 0 BB
2: CF Brian Mitchell (22-L .278-18-0-1-.594 75) 5 SO
3: LF Kim Springer (22-L .167-24-0-2-.375 67) 8 SO
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (26-R .304-23-1-6-.863 70) Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star(MVP)/Gold Glove(01)
5: 3B Fernando Mexicano (22-L .333-24-3-5-1.241 55) Silver Slugger
6: C Rick Mansoor (29-R .000-3-0-0-.400 77) 2 BB
7: SS Dave Risinger (27-R .125-24-0-4-.458 88) 0 BB
8: 2B Juan Rojas (24-S .217-23-0-1-.497 104) 6 SO
9: P Steve Muir (28-R .500-2-0-1-1.500 36) 1 2B/0 SO

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Metropolitan Stadium
Weather: 49 F, Clear Skies, with a 7 MPH wind blowing in from center
Attendance: 12,532

Top of the First:
Larry Murphy grounds a hit to left. Dick Henry grounds out to 2nd and Murphy goes to 2nd. Dave Macnaughton grounds out slowly to short and Murphy goes to 3rd. Marco Mango grounds out to 1st, unassisted!

Bottom of the First:
Jerry Suazo lines out to 2nd. Brian Mitchell grounds out to 2nd. Kim Springer loops a single to center. Glenn Snowden flies out to right.

Top of the Second:
Dave Kiehne lines a hit to right. Larry Kelm triples to the right field corner and Kiehne scores... 1 to 0, Twins. Dave Metcalf lines a hit to center and Kelm scores... 2 to 0, Twins. With 1 out, P Jeff McKeeman bunts Metcalf to 2nd. Larry Murphy lines a hit to right and Metcalf scores... 3 to 0, Twins. Murphy is caught stealing.

Bottom of the Second:
Fernando Mexicano and Rick Mansoor lead off with back to back hits. Dave Risinger grounds into a 6-4-3 double play and Mexicano goes to 3rd... Juan Rojas swings at a 3-2 pitch and triples to right center and Mexicano scores! 3 to 1, Twins. P Steve Muir grounds out to 2nd.

Top of the Fifth:
With 2 outs, Larry Murphy triples down the right field line and Dick Henry lines a hit to left center... 4 to 1, Twins.

Top of the Sixth:
New Pitcher: Rich Larkin (23-R). Marco Manga singles and steals 2nd. But the next two strike out and Dave Metcalf lines out to center!

Bottom of the Sixth:
We get 3 hits and a walk, but no runs...

Bottom of the Seventh:
Dave Risinger draws a walk, his first of the season! Juan Rojas grounds into a force at 2nd, 5-4. PH Oscar Trejo (30-R) is sent up. There is no use saving him to face a left-hander, because the Twins do not have a left-hander on their roster. He walks on 4 pitches. With 2 outs, Brian Mitchell doubles to right and Rojas scores! 4 to 2, Twins. Kim Springer bloops a hit to center and Trejo scores! 4 to 3, Twins. Glenn Snowden grounds out to short...

Top of the Eighth:
New Pitcher: Denny Jennissen (29-R). Larry Ballard (24-L) is in to play left in a double switch. Dick Henry walks... With 2 outs, he steals 2nd. Dave Kiehne doubles to left and Henry scores... 5 to 3, Twins. Larry Kelm walks... Dave Metcalf clears the bases with a triple to center... 7 to 3, Twins. Jennissen really knows how to worm his way into my heart... This is the guy we gave up a player with 35 HR to get.... Dick Turner grounds out to short.

Lost - 7 to 3

We had 12 hits and made no errors
Minnesota had 10 hits and made no errors

We hit into 5 double plays: 4 GDP and 1 LDP

Steve Muir (L 1-1) went 5 innings, allowed 4 runs, 7 hits, no walks and struck out no one.
RHP Rich Larkin went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit and struck out 3.
RHP Denny Jennissen went 2 innings, allowed 3 runs, 2 hits, 2 walks and struck out 2.

Jeff McKeeman (W 1-0) went 8 innings, gave us 3 runs, 12 hits, 3 walks and struck out no one.

CF Brian Mitchell hit a double and had an RBI. LF Kim Springer had 3 hits and and RBI. 1B Glenn Snowden had 2 hits. 3B Fernando Mexicano had 2 hits and a walk and scored a run. SS Dave Risinger had a hit and a walk. 2B Juan Rojas hit a triple, scored a run and had an RBI. PH Oscar Trejo drew a walk and scored a run.

For Minnesota, 3B Larry Murphy had 3 hits with a triple, scored a run and had an RBI. 1B Dave Metcalf had 2 hits with a triple, scored a run and had 3 RBI.

[Questdog]

Tuesday, April 15, 2003

Minnesota Twins (4-3 .571 2 GB tied for 2nd place in the PCL East) at
Portland Beavers (3-4 .429 2 GB tied for 4th place in the PCL West)

MIN: Carl Jones (29-R 0-1 3.38) vs. POR: Frank Flores (23-R 1-0 7.20)

Jones was 10-12 with a 3.78 ERA last year. He was 1-0 in 2 starts versus the Beavers and pitched well both times.

Flores gave up 7 hits and 4 runs in 5 IP in his season debut, but our offense got him a win.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
MINNESOTA
1: 3B Larry Murphy (23-R .310-29-1-5-.927 87)
2: SS Dick Henry (25-S .346-26-2-7-1.068 89)
3: 2B Dave Macnaughton (30-R .208-24-0-6-.588 80) All-Star
4: CF Marco Manga (23-L .333-27-0-0-.861 64) All-Star
5: LF Phil Brown (29-R .250-24-1-3-.780 67)
6: RF Larry Kelm (27-R .174-23-0-3-.482 80)
7: 1B Dave Metcalf (27-R .300-20-0-4-.775 97)
8: C Darrell Sommerville (25-L 1.000-1-0-0-2.000 73)
9: P Carl Jones (29-R .000-1-0-0-.000 24)

PORTLAND
1: RF Jerry Suazo (28-L .161-31-0-0-.323 91)
2: CF Brian Mitchell (22-L .273-22-0-2-.623 75)
3: LF Kim Springer (22-L .250-28-0-3-.536 67)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (26-R .333-27-1-6-.881 70) Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star(MVP)/Gold Glove(01)
5: 3B Fernando Mexicano (22-L .370-27-3-5-1.266 55) Silver Slugger
6: C Jim Shippy (32-R .111-18-0-2-.311 61)
7: SS Dave Risinger (27-R .148-27-0-4-.512 88)
8: 2B Juan Rojas (24-S .222-27-0-2-.572 104)
9: P Frank Flores (23-R .000-2-0-1-.000 39)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Metropolitan Stadium
Weather: 51 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 8 MPH wind blowing in from right
Attendance: 13,654

Top of the First:
Larry Murphy lines out to deep center. Dick Henry grounds out to 2nd. Dave Macnaughton flies out to left! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the First:
Jerry Suazo flies out to center. Brian Mitchell grounds out to 2nd, Dave Macnaughton making a great play and robbing Mitchell of a hit. Kim Springer swings at a 3-2- pitch and grounds out to short...

The first time through the order for both teams comes up empty...

Top of the Fourth:
Larry Murphy walks and steals 2nd. With 2 outs (of course, with 2 outs, why do I even mention it?), Marco Manga grounds the first hit of the game to center and Murphy scores... 1 to 0, Twins.

Bottom of the Fourth:
With 1 out, Brian Mitchell gets our first hit and then Kim Springer gets hit by a pitch. Glenn Snowden pops out to 2nd... Fernando Mexicano hits a home run to right!!! 3 to 1, Beavers! That is 4 home runs already for Mexicano in game #8! Snowden better get on the ball or he will be left behind!

Top of the Sixth:
Larry Murphy doubles to right. It looked like a single, but he just hustles it into a double. Dick Henry flies out to deep right and Murphy tags up and moves to 3rd. Dave Macnaughton strikes out, but the ump calls catcher's interference.... Marco Manga beats out an infield hit and Murphy scores... 3 to 2, Beavers. The Bullpen is up. But the next two make outs!

Top of the Seventh:
Dave Metcalf singles and the Bullpen is up again. He gets bunted to 2nd and a wild pitch sends him to 3rd... PH Bobby Salazar (32-L) takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... Call to the Bullpen: Roy Huls (22-R). Rick Mansoor (29-R) is in to catch in a double switch. Larry Murphy pops out to left and the runners hold. 2 outs. Dick Henry swings at an 0-2 pitch and grounds a hit to center.... Murphy scores. Tie game: 3 to 3. Dave Macnaughton lines a hit to center and Salazar scores.... 4 to 3, Twins. Marco Manga flies out to deep left...

Bottom of the Eighth:
On the Hill: Witt Phillips (36-R), after a perfect 7th. Jerry Suazo draws his first walk of the year in game #8. We signed him primarily on his ability to draw a walk... Brian Mitchell lays down a bunt, but P Phillips throws the ball away for a 2 base error! They make a pitching change. New Pitcher: Randy Bergman (36-R), who was their closer last year. 36 SV and a 3.20 ERA in 2002. Kim Springer swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses.... Is it too much to ask to score a runner from 3rd with no outs? Glenn Snowden fouls out to 3rd.... Yes, it is too much to ask... They do NOT walk Fernando Mexicano and he grounds out to 2nd.... Why do I like this game, again?

Bottom of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Joe Sarette (30-R), their new (old) closer. He was their closer in 2001 with 30 SV and a 2.67 ERA, but lost the job to Bergman last year. Now, he has it back. PH Oscar Trejo (30-R) grounds out to short. I guess it is too much to hope for that he will get a hit or a walk EVERY time.... PH Carlos Lopez (28-L) strikes out on 3 pitches... Juan Rojas flies out to left....

Lost - 4 to 3

After winning 3 in a row, we have now lost 4 in a row...
3 or fewer runs scored in all the losses...
We scored 13 runs in our last win and 8 total in the 4 losses since...

We had 5 whole hits and made 2 errors
Minnesota had 7 hits and made 1 error

Frank Flores (L 1-1) went 6.1 innings, allowed 4 runs, 5 hits, 2 walks and struck out 5. He threw a WP. 108 pitches.
RHP Roy Huls (BS 1) went 2.2 scoreless innings, allowed 2 hits and struck out 2. Tough not to blow a save with a runner already on 3rd with only 1 out.

Carl Jones (W 1-1) went 6 innings, gave us 3 runs, 4 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk, 1 HBP and struck out 1.
RHP Joe Sarette (SV 1) pitched a perfect 9th with 1 strike out.

3B Fernando Mexicano hit a double and his 4th home run of the season and had 3 RBI. 2B Juan Rojas had 2 hits.

[Questdog]

Wednesday, April 16, 2003

Minnesota Twins (5-3 .625 2 GB tied for 2nd place in the PCL East) at
Portland Beavers (3-5 .375 3 GB tied for 5th place in the PCL West)

MIN: Santos Matamoros (24-R 0-0 6.75) Rookie vs. POR: Rondey Moe (27-R 1-0 2.57)

Matamoros was drafted in the 1st round of this year B Leagues Draft (26th overall). This will be his 2nd career start. He gave up 5 runs in 6 IP to Sacramento in his first, but the Twins won.

Moe gave up 2 runs and 4 hits in 7 IP in his 1st start, but walked 4.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
MINNESOTA
1: 3B Larry Murphy (23-R .303-33-1-5-.924 87)
2: SS Dick Henry (25-S .323-31-2-8-.963 89)
3: 2B Dave Macnaughton (30-R .222-27-0-7-.596 80) All-Star
4: CF Marco Manga (23-L .355-31-0-2-.878 64) All-Star
5: C Dave Kiehne (28-R .214-28-0-3-.517 80)
6: LF Phil Brown (29-R .214-28-1-3-.670 67)
7: RF Larry Kelm (27-R .148-27-0-3-.422 80)
8: 1B Dave Metcalf (27-R .292-24-0-4-.732 97)
9: P Santos Matamoros (24-R 1.000-2-0-2-2.500 56) Rookie

PORTLAND
1: RF Jerry Suazo (28-L .147-34-0-0-.318 91)
2: CF Brian Mitchell (22-L .280-25-0-2-.628 75)
3: LF Kim Springer (22-L .226-31-0-3-.508 67)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (26-R .300-30-1-6-.816 70) Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star(MVP)/Gold Glove(01)
5: 3B Fernando Mexicano (22-L .387-31-4-8-1.360 55) Silver Slugger
6: C Jim Shippy (32-R .095-21-0-2-.269 61)
7: SS Dave Risinger (27-R .133-30-0-4-.461 88)
8: 2B Juan Rojas (24-S .258-31-0-2-.626 104)
9: P Rondey Moe (27-L .000-3-0-0-.000 1)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Metropolitan Stadium
Weather: 53 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 7 MPH wind blowing out to left
Attendance: 10,908

Top of the First:
Larry Murphy pops out to short. Dick Henry swings at the first pitch and pops out to short. Dave Macnaughton flies out to left! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the First:
Jerry Suazo swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 1st, 3-1. Brian Mitchell grounds out to the pitcher. Kim Springer swings at the first pitch and lines out to the pitcher....

Bottom of the Second:
Glenn Snowden leads off with a walk. Fernando Mexicano grounds one to short, but Dick Henry boots it! Jim Shippy doubles to left center and Snowden scores! 1 to 0, Beavers! Dave Risinger swings at the first pitch and doubles to left center and both runners score!! 3 to 0, Beavers! With 1 out, P Rondey Moe lines a hit to right and Risinger scores and Moe ends up on 2nd! 4 to 0, Beavers! The next two make outs.

Bottom of the Fourth:
Dave Risinger leads off with a walk. With 1 out, P Rondey Moe bunts him to 2nd. With 2 outs, Jerry Suazo lines a hit to center and Risinger scores! 5 to 0, Beavers! That does it for P Santos Matamoros. New Pitcher: Luis Veloz (35-R). Brian Mitchell swings at a 3-2 pitch and lines a hit to left and Suazo makes it to 3rd. Kim Springer swings at a 3-2 pitch and lines a hit to center and Suazo scores and Mitchell goes to 3rd! 6 to 0, Beavers! Glenn Snowden grounds out to short...

Top of the Fifth:
With 2 outs, Larry Kelm gets the Twins' first hit of the game, a home run to right... 6 to 1, Beavers.

Bottom of the Eighth:
New Pitcher: Gustavo Rosas (23-R), the third rookie pitcher of the day for the Twins. With 1 out, P Rondey Moe grounds his third hit of the day to right. Jerry Suazo hits a home run to right!! 8 to 1, Beavers!

Won - 8 to 1

We had 11 hits and made no errors
Minnesota had 1 hit and made 1 error

A 1 hitter!
First Complete Game of the season!

Rondey Moe (W 2-0) went 9 innings (CG), allowed 1 run, 1 hit, a home run, 4 walks and struck out 4. At bat, he was 3 for 3 with a SH, scored a run and had an RBI.

Santos Matamoros (L 0-1) went 3.2 innings, gave us 6 runs (5 earned), 5 hits, 2 walks and struck out 3.

RF Jerry Suazo had 2 hits with his 1st home run as a Beaver, scored 2 runs and had 3 RBI. C Jim Shippy had 2 hits with a double, stole a base, scored a run and had an RBI. SS Dave Risinger hit a double, drew 2 walks, scored 2 runs and had 2 RBI.

Around the League: Facing three rookie pitchers today got me to wondering how many rookie pitchers there are this year. The answer is a lot. Already, 98 rookie pitchers have thrown a pitch in the Majors this year. That is an average of more than 3 per team! The Major League takeover of the B and C Leagues has brought a lot of talent under MLB control. Maybe we should have spread it out a bit and only taken over the B Leagues this year, but what is done is done.

[Questdog]

Thursday, April 17, 2003

Minnesota Twins (5-4 .556 2 GB tied for 3rd place in the PCL East) at
Portland Beavers (4-5 .444 3 GB tied for 5th place in the PCL West)

MIN: Paul Jasper (31-R 1-0 4.97) vs. POR: Bill Woodward (22-R 0-0 1.29) Rookie

Jasper is their #1 starter. We only faced him once last year and scored 5 runs in 6.1 IP, but he had a no decision.

Woodward got the job done in his Major League debut with 1 run allowed in 7 IP, but was hit pretty hard. He allowed 7 hits and 2 walks and only struck out 1.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
MINNESOTA
1: 3B Larry Murphy (23-R .270-37-1-5-.828 87)
2: SS Dick Henry (25-S .286-35-2-8-.856 89)
3: 2B Dave Macnaughton (30-R .194-31-0-7-.523 80) All-Star
4: CF Marco Manga (23-L .314-35-0-2-.780 64) All-Star
5: C Dave Kiehne (28-R .207-29-0-3-.544 80)
6: LF Phil Brown (29-R .194-31-1-3-.606 67)
7: 1B Larry Kelm (27-R .167-30-1-4-.545 91)
8: RF Dick Turner (27-R .111-9-0-0-.222 110)
9: P Paul Jasper (31-S .000-4-0-0-.000 1)

PORTLAND
1: RF Jerry Suazo (28-L .179-39-1-3-.456 91)
2: CF Brian Mitchell (22-L .267-30-0-2-.590 75)
3: LF Kim Springer (22-L .222-36-0-4-.493 67)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (26-R .273-33-1-6-.762 70) Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star(MVP)/Gold Glove(01)
5: 3B Fernando Mexicano (22-L .371-35-4-8-1.264 55) Silver Slugger
6: C Jim Shippy (32-R .160-25-0-3-.422 61)
7: SS Dave Risinger (27-R .156-32-0-6-.572 88)
8: 2B Juan Rojas (24-S .229-35-0-2-.556 104)
9: P Bill Woodward (22-R .000-2-0-0-.000 45) Rookie

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Metropolitan Stadium
Weather: 56 F, Clear Skies, with a 7 MPH wind blowing in from center
Attendance: 12,709

Top of the First:
Larry Murphy swings at the first pitch and lines a hit to center. Against Woodward that will mean an automatic steal because he does not hold runners well... Yep, there goes Murphy and C Jim Shippy does not even make a throw. Dick Henry swings at a 3-2 pitch and flies out to left. Murphy steals 3rd. Dave Macnaughton fouls out to 3rd. 2 outs and a runner on 3rd, so that means a hit is coming... But you cannot get a hit if you do not swing the bat and Marco Mango strikes out looking!

Bottom of the First:
Jerry Suazo swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 2nd. Brian Mitchell grounds out to short. Kim Springer grounds out to short...

Top of the Second:
Dave Kiehne leads off with a home run to left center... 1 to 0, Twins. With 1 out, Larry Kelm takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Dick Turner walks. P Paul Jasper bunts the runners up. 2 outs. Larry Murphy walks on 4 pitches to load them up. Dick Henry clears the bases with a double to left.... 4 to 0, Twins. The Bullpen is up. Dave Macnaughton flies out to deep center.

Top of the Third:
With 2 outs, Phil Brown walks on 4 pitches... Larry Kelm triples to center... 5 to 0, Twins. Dick Turner lines a hit to left and Kelm scores. 6 to 0, Twins.

Bottom of the Third:
Dave Risinger becomes our first base runner when he grounds a hit to left. With 1 out, PH Carlos Lopez (28-L) doubles down the right field line and Risinger scores from 1st! 6 to 1, Twins. Jerry Suazo grounds a hit to center. Brian Mitchell fouls out to the catcher with a runner on 3rd and less than 2 outs... Kim Springer swings at the first pitch and flies out to left.

Lost - 7 to 1

We had 4 whole hits and made no errors
Minnesota had 8 hits and made no errors

Bill Woodward (L 0-1) went 3 innings, allowed 6 runs, 5 hits, 1 home run, 4 walks and struck out 2. Pretty ugly...
RHP Jon Weekley pitched 2 perfect innings and struck out 1.
RHP Rich Larkin went 2 innings, allowed 1 run, 3 hits, and struck out 3.
RHP Denny Jennissen went 2 scoreless innings, hit a batter and struck out 3.

Paul Jasper (W 2-0) went 9 innings (CG), gave us 1 run, 4 hits, no walks and struck out 1. 88 pitches.

We only had 4 hits and no walks... PH Carlos Lopez is the only one worthy of mention. He hit a double and had our RBI.

For Minnesota, SS Dick Henry had 2 hits with a double, scored a run and had 3 RBI.

[Questdog]

Friday, April 18, 2003

We start our California road trip with 3 games in San Diego over the weekend. They just won 3 of 4 in San Antonio. We were 10-4 against them last season and 3-11 in 2001. No CF Dave Bafaro this time because he is out for the season. No LF Brian Mosca or 2-time Gold Glove SS Del Hall either in this series. The Padres are tied for 14th in scoring in the PCL with 3.00 runs per game (Portland is tied for 8th with 4.00). How they are scoring 3 runs a game is a mystery because they are only hitting .198 as a team with a .531 OPS. They are 3rd in fewest runs allowed with 3.10 per game (Portland is 7th with 4.00). They have walked the fewest batters in the League (20). We have walked 39, tied for 3rd most. Their run differential is -1 and ours is 0.

Portland Beavers (4-6 .400 4 GB tied for 5th place in the PCL West) at
San Diego Padres (5-5 .500 3 GB in 4th place in the PCL West)

POR: Bobby Johnson (23-R 0-2 5.23) vs. SD: Mike Bennett (32-L 0-1 1.76)

Johnson, after walking 2.1 batter per 9 innings in the first two years of his career, has walked 10 in 10.1 IP this season... He needs to get his control under control....

Bennett was signed as a free agent this winter. For San Francisco, he went 19-6 with a 3.00 ERA last year. He has made two good starts for the Padres this season, but their offense has only scored 3 totals runs for him. He has pitched for the division winner in each of the 1st two seasons. He was with Los Angeles in 2001. He was 1-1 in 4 starts against us last season with the Seals, but only pitched 1 good game.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
PORTLAND
1: CF Jack Hinckley (27-R .273-11-0-0-.697 77)
2: 2B Juan Rojas (24-S .211-38-0-2-.513 104) 9 SO
3: 3B Fernando Mexicano (22-L .342-38-4-8-1.168 55) Silver Slugger 4 2B
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (26-R .278-36-1-6-.755 70) Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star(MVP)/Gold Glove(01)
5: C Jim Shippy (32-R .143-28-0-3-.379 61)
6: LF Kim Springer (22-L .200-40-0-4-.445 67) 11 SO
7: SS Dave Risinger (27-R .171-35-0-6-.580 88) 2 2B/2 3B
8: RF Jerry Suazo (28-L .186-43-1-3-.460 91)
9: P Bobby Johnson (23-R .333-3-0-0-1.000 1)

SAN DIEGO
1: CF Dick Berube (21-R .308-39-0-0-.742 77) Rookie Bruised hand 5 SB
2: 3B Norman Darcy (26-L .152-33-0-2-.425 97)
3: 2B Buddy Potts (28-R .256-39-0-4-.685 63) Gold Glove(1B) 3 SB
4: 1B Bill Lunsford (21-L .172-29-0-2-.536 82) Rookie 4 2B
5: RF Danny Holmes (26-L .103-39-0-2-.225 83) 0 XBH
6: LF Pete Reid (28-L .111-9-0-1-.311 62) 4 SO
7: SS Milt White (28-R .120-25-1-5-.473 93) 7 SO
8: C Barry Solomon (24-L .120-25-0-0-.305 59) Rookie 0 XBH
9: P Mike Bennett (32-L .250-4-0-0-.750 1)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Jack Murphy Stadium
Weather: 66 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to center
Attendance: 21,171

Top of the First:
Jack Hinckley doubles to right center! Juan Rojas grounds out to 3rd. P Mike Bennett balks to put a runner on 3rd with less than 2 outs... Fernando Mexicano swings at the first pitch and lines a hit to center and Hinckley scores! 1 to 0, Beavers! Mexicano gets thrown out stealing... Glenn Snowden takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Jim Shippy pops out to right.

Bottom of the First:
Dick Berube swings at a 3-2 pitch (thank you) and pops out to left. Norman Darcy swings at the first pitch (thank you) and pops out to left. Buddy Potts swings at a 3-2 pitch (thank you) and lines a hit to left (no thank you). He steals 2nd. Bill Lunsford pops out to left! A pair of 3-2 counts, but no walks!

Top of the Second:
Kim Springer grounds an 0-2 pitch to right for a hit. Dave Risinger doubles to left center! Jerry Suazo takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with no outs! P Bobby Johnson swings at the first pitch and lines out hard to deep right and Springer tags up and scores and Risinger goes to 3rd! 2 to 0, Beavers! Jack Hinckley swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit to center and Risinger scores! 3 to 0, Beavers! Juan Rojas clears the bases with a double down the right field line!! 5 to 0, Beavers! Fernando Mexicano inexplicably watches 3 straight strikes go by... 2 outs. Glenn Snowden grounds a hit to right. That does it for P Mike Bennett. New Pitcher: Ray Moore (21-R), a rookie making his Major League debut. Jim Shippy pops out to 1st.

Bottom of the Sixth:
With 1 out, Dick Berube walks on 4 pitches... With 2 outs, a passed ball sends him to 2nd. Buddy Potts grounds the Padres' second hit of the game to left. Bill Lunsford grounds the third to left and Berube scores... 5 to 1, Beavers.

Bottom of the Eighth:
PH Salvador Oceguera (36-R), who won the 2001 NL Batting Title (.357) with Philadelphia, but was signed to a minor league contract this winter by the Padres, doubles to right. The Bullpen is up. With 2 outs, Buddy Potts doubles off the center field wall and Oceguera scores. 5 to 2, Beavers. Call to the Bullpen: Victor Alvarez (29-L). Bill Lunsford grounds out to 2nd.

Won - 5 to 2

We had 11 hits and made no errors
San Diego had 5 hits and made no errors

Bobby Johnson (W 1-2) went 7.2 innings, allowed 2 runs, 5 hits, 2 walks and struck out 3. Now, that looks more like a Bobby Johnson game. At bat, he hit a SF.
LHP Victor Alvarez (SV 1) went 1.1 scoreless innings and walked 1.

Mike Bennett (L 0-2) went 1.2 innings, gave us 5 runs, 7 hits, 2 walks and struck out 1. He balked.

CF Jack Hinckley had 2 hits with a double, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. 2B Juan Rojas had 2 hits with a double and 2 RBI. 3B Fernando Mexicano had a hit and a walk and an RBI. 1B Glenn Snowden had a hit and a walk. LF Kim Springer had 2 hits and scored a run. SS Dave Risinger hit a double and scored a run. RF/LF Jerry Suazo had a hit and a walk and scored a run.

For San Diego, 2B Buddy Potts had 3 of their 5 hits with a double, stole a base and had an RBI.

[Questdog]

Saturday, April 19, 2003

Portland Beavers (5-6 .455 4 GB tied for 4th place in the PCL West) at
San Diego Padres (5-6 .455 4 GB tied for 4th place in the PCL West)

POR: Steve Muir (28-R 1-1 4.15) Gold Glove(01) vs. SD: Pablo Venegas (23-R 1-0 2.08) Rookie

After a great first start of the season, Muir was hit hard in his last outing with 4 runs and 7 hits in 5 IP.

Venegas is a rookie making his 2nd career start. He went 8.2 innings in his first and only allowed 2 runs at San Antonio.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
PORTLAND
1: RF Jerry Suazo (28-L .196-46-1-3-.490 91)
2: CF Brian Mitchell (22-L .235-34-0-2-.522)
3: LF Kim Springer (22-L .227-44-0-4-.494 67)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (26-R .275-40-1-6-.745 70) Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star(MVP)/Gold Glove(01)
5: 3B Fernando Mexicano (22-L .333-42-4-9-1.119 55) Silver Slugger
6: C Jim Shippy (32-R .156-32-0-3-.393 61)
7: 2B A.J. Lee (23-R .000-1-0-0-.000 95)
8: SS Juan Rojas (24-S .233-43-0-4-.569 89)
9: P Steve Muir (28-R .333-3-0-1-1.000 36) Gold Glove(01)

SAN DIEGO
1: CF Dick Berube (21-R .286-42-0-0-.705 77) Rookie Bruised hand
2: 3B Norman Darcy (26-L .135-37-0-2-.382 97)
3: 1B Bill Lunsford (21-L .182-33-0-3-.532 82) Rookie
4: LF Pete Reid (28-L .077-13-0-1-.220 62)
5: RF Danny Holmes (26-L .093-43-0-2-.204 83)
6: 2B Jim Tepper (25-R .250-8-0-0-.650 72)
7: SS Milt White (28-R .107-28-1-5-.450 93)
8: C Rick Tyson (28-L .200-5-0-2-.400 47)
9: P Pablo Venegas (23-L .000-2-0-0-.000 1) Rookie

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Jack Murphy Stadium
Weather: 78 F, Clear Skies, with a 14 MPH wind blowing out to center
Attendance: 22,075

Top of the First:
Jerry Suazo grounds out to short. Brian Mitchell grounds out to 2nd. Kim Springer walks on 4 pitches. Glenn Snowden doubles to center and Springer scores from 1st! 1 to 0, Beavers! Fernando Mexicano lines a hit to right and Snowden scores! 2 to 0, Beavers! Jim Shippy lines a hit to right. A.J. Lee swings at a 3-2 pitch and lines out to deep left.

Bottom of the First:
Dick Berube grounds out to 3rd. Norman Darcy lines a hit to right. Bill Lunsford grounds into a force at 2nd, 1-6. Pete Reid lines one to left and Kim Springer makes a diving catch!

Bottom of the Second:
With 1 out, Jim Tepper doubles to center. Milt White gets hit by a pitch. Rick Tyson grounds a hit to right and Tepper scores. 2 to 1, Beavers. P Pablo Venegas bunts the runners up. 2 outs. Dick Berube fouls out to 1st!

Bottom of the Third:
With 1 out, Bill Lunsford grounds a hit to right. He steals 2nd. With 2 outs, Danny Holmes grounds a hit up the middle and Lunsford scores... Tie Game: 2 to 2.

Top of the Fourth:
A.J. Lee leads off with a home run to left! 3 to 2, Beavers!

Bottom of the Fifth:
Dick Berube and Norman Darcy lead off with back to back hits and runners are at the corners with no outs. The Bullpen is up. Bill Lunsford fouls out to the catcher. Pete Reid grounds into a 4-6-3 double play!!

Bottom of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Roy Huls (22-R). The Padres go down 1-2-3 and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Beavers!

Won - 3 to 2

We had 7 hits and made no errors
San Diego had 8 hits and made 1 error

Steve Muir (W 2-1) went 8 innings, allowed 2 runs, 8 hits, 1 walk, 1 HBP and struck out 1.
RHP Roy Huls (SV 3) pitched a perfect 9th with 1 strikeout.

Pablo Venegas (L 1-1) went 7 innings, gave us 3 runs, 6 hits, 1 home run, 3 walks and struck out 4.

CF Brian Mitchell had a hit and a walk. LF Kim Springer hit a double and drew a walk and scored a run. 1B Glenn Snowden hit a double, scored a run and had an RBI. 3B Fernando Mexicano had 2 hits and a walk and had an RBI. 2B A.J. Lee hit his 1st home run as a Beaver. He only hit 2 in 372 AB for Baltimore last season. PH Carlos Lopez drew a walk and stole a base.

[Questdog]

Sunday, April 20, 2003

Today is P Bobby Johnson's 24th birthday!

Portland Beavers (6-6 .500 3 GB tied for 3rd place in the PCL West) at
San Diego Padres (5-7 .417 4 GB in 6th place in the PCL West)

POR: Frank Flores (23-R 1-1 6.35) vs. SD: Bobby Wolfe (26-R 2-0 2.51)

Flores has allowed 4 runs in each of his 1st 2 starts.

Wolfe had a great 1st start, but gave up 5 runs (3 earned) in is last outing in 6.2 IP, but got lucky that that was one of the few games that the Padres had scored some runs. He was 0-3 against the Beavers last season, but did not have a really bad start.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
PORTLAND
1: CF Larry Ballard (35-L .000-7-0-0-.000 73)
2: RF Brian Mitchell (22-L .237-38-0-2-.538 102)
3: LF Kim Springer (22-L .234-47-0-4-.542 67)
4: 3B Fernando Mexicano (22-L .356-45-4-10-1.142 55) Silver Slugger
5: 1B Oscar Trejo (30-R .500-4-1-1-1.850 68)
6: C Rick Mansoor (29-R .111-9-0-0-.384 77)
7: SS Dave Risinger (27-R .179-39-0-6-.597 88)
8: 2B A.J. Lee (23-R .200-5-1-1-1.000 95)
9: P Frank Flores (23-R .000-4-0-1-.000 39)

SAN DIEGO
1: CF Dick Berube (21-R .304-46-0-0-.730 77) Rookie Bruised hand
2: 3B Norman Darcy (26-L .175-40-0-2-.467 97)
3: 2B Buddy Potts (28-R .295-44-0-5-.763 63) Gold Glove(1B)
4: 1B Bill Lunsford (21-L .189-37-0-3-.528 82) Rookie
5: RF Danny Holmes (26-L .106-47-0-3-.229 83)
6: LF Pete Reid (28-L .059-17-0-1-.170 62)
7: C Barry Solomon (24-L .103-29-0-0-.291 59) Rookie
8: SS Denny Peters (26-S .118-17-0-2-.368 86)
9: P Bobby Wolfe (26-R .500-4-0-0-1.000 1)

Game Start: 1:05 PM
Ballpark: Jack Murphy Stadium
Weather: 68 F, Clear Skies, with a 7 MPH wind blowing out to center
Attendance: 18,835

Top of the First:
Larry Ballard pops out to left. Brian Mitchell strikes out looking... Kim Springer grounds out to 3rd...

Bottom of the First:
Dick Berube grounds out to 2nd. Norman Darcy flies out to deep left. Buddy Potts flies out to center! 1-2-3!

Top of the Second:
With 2 outs, Rick Mansoor grounds a hit up the middle. Dave Risinger takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. A.J. Lee grounds a 3-2 pitch to right for a hit and Mansoor scores and Risinger goes to 3rd! 1 to 0, Beavers! P Frank Flores grounds a hit to center and Risinger scores and Lee goes to 3rd! 2 to 0, Beavers! Larry Ballard grounds out to 1st, 3-1.

Bottom of the Second:
The Padres go down order!

Top of the Third:
Brian Mitchell leads off with a walk and Kim Springer gets beaned. After the Big Guns of Mexicano and Trejo make outs, Rick Mansoor grounds a hit to right and Mitchell scores! 3 to 0, Beavers!

Bottom of the Third:
The Padres go down order! 9 in a row set down by P Frank Flores!

Top of the Fourth:
A.J. Lee leads off with a walk. P Frank Flores lays down a bunt and P Bobby Wolfe fields it and goes for the force at 2nd, but throws the ball into center and everyone is safe! Larry Ballard, the last Beaver hitter still looking for his first hit of 2003, grounds into a force at 2nd, 3-6, and Lee goes to 3rd. Ballard is now 0 for 10. He takes off for 2nd and they have a pitchout on, but he is safe anyway! A wild pitch scores Lee! 4 to 0, Beavers! Brian Mitchell draws a walk. Kim Springer flies out to center and Ballard scores without a throw! 5 to 0, Beavers! That is the first SF of the season for a non-pitcher! That also is the end of P Bobby Wolfe for today. New Pitcher: Ken Baltz (27-R), making his season debut. He had a 2.19 ERA in 53.1 IP in 2001, but a 5.74 ERA in 47 IP last season. Fernando Mexicano lines out to right.

Bottom of the Fourth:
With 1 out, Norman Darcy takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 and becomes the first base runner of the game for the Padres. But the next two ground out!

Top of the Fifth:
Oscar Trejo grounds a hit to left. Rick Mansoor doubles to center and Trejo scores from 1st and Mansoor ends up on 3rd! 6 to 0, Beavers! Dave Risinger, with a runner on 3rd and less than 2 outs, makes contact! He grounds out to 3rd and Mansoor scores! 7 to 0, Beavers!

Bottom of the Fifth:
The Padres go down order!

Top of the Sixth:
Larry Ballard leads off with a walk and goes to 2nd on a ground out. Kim Springer reaches on an error by 3B Norman Darcy. Fernando Mexicano grounds out to 1st, unassisted, and Ballard scores. 8 to 0, Beavers.

Bottom of the Sixth:
The Padres go down order!

Top of the Seventh:
Rick Mansoor beats out an infield hit, his 4th hit of the game! Dave Risinger draws a full count walk. A.J. Lee doubles to left center and Mansoor scores! 9 to 0, Beavers! We have scored in every inning, except the 1st! P Frank Flores grounds out to 2nd and Risinger scores and Lee goes to 3rd. 10 to 0, Beavers! Larry Ballard grounds out to 2nd and Lee scores. 11 to 0, Beavers!

Bottom of the Seventh:
The Padres go down order!

Top of the Eighth:
We load the bases up with 2 outs, but do not score...

Bottom of the Eighth:
The Padres go down order!

Top of the Ninth:
Larry Ballard leads off with a walk. They make a pitching change. New Pitcher: Ray Moore (21-R), a rookie who pitched 4.1 shutout innings in his Major League debut against us on Friday. Brian Mitchell beats out an infield hit. With 1 out, Fernando Mexicano doubles down the right field line and Ballard scores. 12 to 0, Beavers. Oscar Trejo strikes out. 2 outs. Rick Mansoor grounds his 5th hit of the day to left and Mitchell scores! 13 to 0, Beavers! Dave Risinger takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up. A.J. Lee strikes out on 3 pitches.

Bottom of the Ninth:
P Frank Flores at 90 pitches. 3 outs to History... Denny Peters strikes out, only the second K of the day for P Flores. PH Salvador Oceguera (36-R), the 2001 NL Batting Champ.... He can still hit; he just cannot play D anymore. He swings at the first pitch and grounds out to short!! PH Milt White (28-R), batting .100 in 30 AB on the year, swings at an 0-1 pitch and grounds one to short.... Dave Risinger flags it down and fires to 1st and P Flores has a NO-HITTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Won - 13 to 0

No-na-No-na-No-na-No-na-No-No!!
And a sweep!

We had 12 hits and made no errors
San Diego had no hits and made 2 errors

Frank Flores (W 2-1) went 9 shutout innings (CG), allowed 0 hits, 1 walk and struck out 2. 98 pitches. At bat, he had a hit and 2 RBI.

Bobby Wolfe (L 2-1) went 3.2 innings, gave us 5 runs (4 earned), 4 hits, 4 walks, 1 HBP and struck out 1.

CF Larry Ballard went 0 for 4, but walked twice, stole a base, scored 3 runs and had an RBI. RF Brian Mitchell had 2 hits and 2 walks and scored 2 runs, 3B Fernando Mexicano hit a double and had 2 RBI. C Rick Mansoor went 5 for 5 with a double and a walk, scored 3 runs and had 3 RBI. He is the 2nd Beaver to have a 5 hit game: Snowden did in July of last year. Mansoor will get some starts! SS Dave Risinger did not have a hit, but walked 4 times, tying the all-time PCL record (!!), scored 2 runs and had an RBI. 2B A.J. Lee had 2 hits with a double and 2 walks, scored 2 runs and had 2 RBI.

Flores' No-No is the 1st in the PCL in the 21st century! The NL has had 4. His 2 K's are fewest for a no-hitter yet.

Editor's Note: OOTP picked C Rick Mansoor as the player of the game.... Also, for those of you wondering at my gall in trying to jinx Frank Flores from making the no-hitter, I definitely did NOT try to jinx him. Though I normally write everything as we go along in a game, I went back after the fact this time and filled in some of the blanks.... Even though I am definitely NOT superstitious, I respect jinxes....

[Questdog]

April 21, 2003

Monday Morning Report
NL Player of the Week - Steve Ward, LF, Toronto (33-R .370/.453/.696) Had 11 hits with 2 2B, 3 HR, 3 BB, 0 SO, 9 R and 6 RBI in 6 G (3rd career PoW)
PCL Player of the Week - Gilberto Lule, RF, Dallas (24-S .327/.403/.600) Had 14 hits with 1 2B, 4 HR, 3 BB, 6 SO, 8 R and 12 RBI in 7 G (2nd career PoW)

(Slash lines are for the season, not the week)

April 14 - Rookie Eduardo Ortega (23-R) of Kansas City, in his season debut, pitched a 5 hit shutout at Los Angeles. He did not walk a batter and struck out 4. At bat, he had a hit. The Royals won, 4 to 0. He beat Bill Wertz (32-R), the highest paid pitcher in the game.
April 15 - 3B Bill Commisso (25-R) of Pittsburgh went 3 for 3 with 2 home runs and 2 walks, scored 3 runs and had 5 RBI at Boston. The Pirates won, 8 to 5. Commisso now has 5 HR in 8 G. He hit 8 last season in 376 AB.
April 16 - LF Ken Manning (24-R) of Kansas City had 4 hits with a triple, scored 2 runs and had 4 RBI at Los Angeles. The Royals won, 12 to 5. They had 21 hits.
April 17 - Graham Pethel (26-R) of Kansas City pitched a 3 hit shutout at Los Angeles. He walked 3, hit a batter and struck out 7. At bat, he had a hit. The Royals won, 5 to 0.
April 19 - Jimmy Henderson (26-L) of Houston pitched a 3 hit shutout at home versus Salt Lake City. He walked 2 and struck out 4. The Astros won, 7 to 0.
April 19 - CF Dan McKee (25-R) of Seattle went 3 for 3 with a triple and a home run, drew a walk, scored 3 runs and had 3 RBI at home versus San Francisco. The Rainiers won, 11 to 6.
April 19 - LF Albert Sibley (29-L) of Washington had 4 hits with a Grand Slam and scored 2 runs at New York. The Nationals won, 7 to 4.
April 19 - LF Steve Ward (33-R) of Toronto had 4 hits with a double and 2 home runs and 5 RBI at home versus Brooklyn. The Blue Jays won, 8 to 7, on Ward's 1 out, 2 run home run on the bottom of the 9th.
April 20 - 1B Luis Hernandez (34-R) of Seattle, an ex-Beaver, hit 2 home runs with 5 RBI at home versus San Francisco, but the Rainiers lost, 10 to 6.
April 20 - Dave Reeder (27-R) of Los Angeles pitched a 3 hit shutout at Sacramento. He walked 3, hit a batter and struck out 2. At bat, he had a hit and scored a run. The Angels won, 2 to 0.
April 20 - Rookie Pete Elliott (23-R) of Philadelphia pitched a 5 hit shutout at Baltimore. He walked 1 and struck out 3. At bat, he had a hit. The Phillies won, 2 to 0.
April 20 - Dennis James (29-R) of Cleveland pitched a 5 hit shutout at home versus Cincinnati. He walked 1 and struck out 11. 131 pitches thrown. At bat, he drew a walk. The Indians won, 2 to 0.

[Questdog]

Monday, April 21, 2003

We are in San Francisco to play a 2 game set with the defending division champion Seals. They lost 2 of 3 in Seattle over the weekend. We were 5-9 against them in both 2001 and 2002. They lead the PCL in scoring with 6.85 runs per game, more than a full run ahead of 2nd best Dallas (Portland is up to tied for 5th with 4.69). The Seals have hit 23 home runs in 13 games, an unbelievable pace. I could give you 10 guesses to pick who leads the Seals in HR and you would not get it. It is none other than 1B Bobbie Duvall (35-R), a free agent signing from Oakland. Duvall was mostly a bench warmer in Oakland and hit 7 HR in 343 AB for them over 2 seasons. He has 4 already for San Francisco. The Beavers have only hit 8 HR, half of those by Fernando Mexicano. The Seals pitching has not been so good, especially the starting rotation. They are tied for last in fewest runs allowed with 5.62 per game (Portland is up to 3rd with 3.38). The Seals starting rotation has an ERA of 7.07! That is by far the worst in Baseball. The 2nd worst in the PCL is Salt Lake City with a 4.76 ERA. Portland sports a decent 3.59 ERA, thanks to Frank Flores no-hitter. The Seals run differential is +16 and ours is +17.

Portland Beavers (7-6 .538 3 GB tied for 2nd place in the PCL West) at
San Francisco Seals (7-6 .538 3 GB tied for 2nd place in the PCL West)

POR: Rondey Moe (27-R 2-0 1.69) vs. SF: Tony Vargas (29-R 1-0 11.00)

Moe pitched a 1 hitter last time out against the Twins, giving them just a home run.

Only for the Seals could you be 1-0 with an ERA of 11.00! Vargas signed a minor league contract with the Seals in February. He spent the past two seasons in San Diego, pitching decently. We was 14-10 with a 3.72 ERA in 2001 and 11-16 with a 3.74 ERA last year. Seems to me to be someone who deserved more than a minor league contract... He was 0-1 in 2 starts against the Beavers last year and we scored at least 5 runs each time. He has walked 10 batters in 9 innings this season.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
PORTLAND
1: RF Jerry Suazo (28-L .176-51-1-3-.443 91) 2 BB
2: CF Brian Mitchell (22-L .262-42-0-2-.612 75)
3: LF Carlos Lopez (28-L .286-7-0-1-.804 70) 4 SO
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (26-R .273-44-1-7-.746 70) Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star(MVP)/Gold Glove(01) 6 BB/3 SO
5: C Rick Mansoor (29-R .429-14-0-3-1.029 77) 3 BB
6: SS Dave Risinger (27-R .171-41-0-7-.633 88) 3 2B/2 3B/7 BB
7: 3B A.J. Lee (23-R .333-9-1-3-1.232 92) 2 BB
8: 2B Juan Rojas (24-S .213-47-0-4-.521 104) 1 BB/10 SO
9: P Rondey Moe (27-L .500-6-0-1-1.000 1)

SAN FRANCISCO
1: SS George Cowles (29-R .269-52-0-2-.760 61) 5 2B
2: CF Jerry Serrano (29-R .404-47-3-11-1.141 72) Gold Glove(RF) 10 R
3: LF Dave McDowell (32-R .245-49-2-11-.835 83) 2-time MVP/Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star 2 3B
4: 1B Bobbie Duvall (35-R .318-44-4-9-1.026 53) FA from Oakland 9 R
5: 3B Brian Dube (29-R .295-44-2-8-.804 73)
6: RF Mike Sorrel (27-L .222-18-1-4-.722 54) 3 BB
7: 2B Jon Proulx (28-S .111-9-0-0-.311 65) FA from Baltimore
8: C Bruce Jump (34-R .162-37-2-5-.667 50) 10 SO
9: P Tony Vargas (29-R .000-3-0-0-.000 53) FA from San Diego

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Candlestick Park
Weather: 60 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 12 MPH wind blowing in from center
Attendance: 21,719

Top of the First:
Jerry Suazo grounds out to short. Brian Mitchell takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. He steals 2nd. Carlos Lopez swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses... That is 5 SO in 8 AB... We knew he would strike out some, but not that much... Glenn Snowden swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 1st, unassisted...

Bottom of the First:
George Cowles lines a hit to right and the Seals have already matched the hit total of the Twins in Moe's last start... I have a feeling that will not be their last... Jerry Serrano flies out to center. Dave McDowell lines out to right. Bobbie Duvall swings at the first pitch and pops out to 3rd!

Top of the Second:
Rick Mansoor takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. That's 7 straight times reaching base! With 1 out, A.J. Lee lobs a hit to right and Mansoor beats the throw to 3rd. Lee takes off for 2nd and C Bruce Jump throws the ball away and Mansoor scores! 1 to 0, Beavers! Juan Rojas swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds a hit to left and Lee scores! 2 to 0, Beavers! P Rondey Moe swings away and lines a hit to center! That's 4 straight hits for him! Jerry Suazo strikes out on 3 pitches.... I am starting to think signing him was not a brilliant move... Brian Mitchell swings at the first pitch and beats out an infield hit and the bases are loaded with 2 outs. Carlos Lopez swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit to center and Rojas scores! 3 to 0, Beavers! Glenn Snowden grounds a hit to left and Moe scores! 4 to 0, Beavers! Rock Mansoor, who started the inning with a walk, grounds a hit to center and 2 runs score!! 6 to 0, Beavers! 8 straight times on base! And there goes P Tony Vargas to the showers. New Pitcher: Arnold Burns (27-R), a rookie who has allowed 4 runs in 3.1 IP. Dave Risinger walks on 4 pitches to load the bases back up. A.J. Lee grounds out to 2nd...

Top of the Third:
With 2 outs, Jerry Suazo sends one to deep left, but Dave McDowell has a bead on it on the warning track, but the ball deflects off the heel of his glove for a 2 base error! Brian Mitchell grounds a hit to right. Carlos Lopez loops a hit to right and Suazo scores! 7 to 0, Beavers! Glenn Snowden takes a 3-2 pitch for strike three... If you recall, he got off to a very slow start last year, hitting .250 for most of the first half... Hopefully he will get going sooner than he did last season....

Bottom of the Fourth:
Dave McDowell and Bobbie Duvall lead off with back to back line drives to center for hits. With 2 outs, John Proulx lines a hit to right and McDowell scores. 7 to 1, Beavers. Bruce Jump takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up. With a chance to get back into the game with a big pinch hit, the Seals instead elect to let P Arnold Burns bat to save their Bullpen and he strikes out looking on 3 pitches. Pretty lame, I say.... Though they do only have two other fresh arms out there.

Top of the Sixth:
Brian Mitchell gets plunked and Carlos Lopez lines a hit to left. Glenn Snowden clears the bases with a double to right center!! 9 to 1, Beavers! The next three all make outs.

Bottom of the Sixth:
Bobbie Duvall and Brian Dube lead off with back to back hits. With 2 outs, Bruce Jump, that old thorn in our side, doubles off the center field wall and both runners score. 9 to 3, Beavers.

Top of the Seventh:
With 2 outs, Jerry Suazo and Brian Mitchell both hit singles and P Arnold Burns, that poor sacrificial lamb, balks the runners up. Carlos Lopez grounds a hit to center and both runners score. 11 to 3, Beavers! Back to back double digit outbursts!

Top of the Eighth:
Rick Mansoor grounds a hit to left and Dave McDowell makes his second error of the day trying to corral the ball and Mansoor is on 2nd. First two errors of the season for McDowell. This is his first game in left this season. He played there almost exclusively the last two years, but he has a cannon for an arm and I always wondered why they did not put him in right. This year, they finally have. They make a pitching change: New Pitcher: Roy Colburn (30-R) with a 2.45 ERA in 11 IP, but had a 5.06 ERA in 90.2 IP last year. Dave Risinger bounces one back to the mound, but P Colburn makes a bad throw to 1st for an error! That is the 4th error of the game for the Seals. Risinger gets picked off... A.J. Lee grounds another one back to the mound and P Colburn makes the play this time and Mansoor holds at 3rd. 2 outs. Juan Rojas strikes out.... A lot of writing for an inning that we did not score...

Top of the Ninth:
With 1 out, Jerry Suazo singles and Brian Mitchell follows with a double to right. Carlos Lopez grounds out to the pitcher. Glenn Snowden grounds a double over the 3rd base bag and both runners score! 13 to 3, Beavers!

Won - 13 to 3

I got a feeling, a feeling deep inside...oh, yeah!
I got a feeling, a feeling I can't hide...oh, yea-ah! Oh! Yea-ah!
I got a feeling we might be in a pennant race this year!

The only thing that kept us from having a winning season last year was our stinky Bullpen, but we have hopefully upgraded that to where it should be an asset. And with the Seals having their pitching problems, that should open the door for us!

We had 18 hits and made 1 error
San Francisco had 10 hits and made 4 errors

Rondey Moe (W 3-0) went 8 innings, allowed 3 runs, 10 hits, 1 walk (!) and struck out 7. At bat, he had a hit and scored a run.
RHP Rich Larkin went 1 scoreless innings, allowed 1 walk and struck out 2.

Tony Vargas (L 1-1) went 1.2 innings, gave us 6 runs, 7 hits, 2 walks and struck out 2. He now has a 14.34 ERA on the season.

RF Jerry Suazo had 2 hits and scored 3 runs. CF Brian Mitchell had 4 hits with a double and a walk, was hit by a pitch, stole a base and scored 4 runs. LF Carlos Lopez had 4 hits, scored 2 runs and had 4 RBI. 1B Glenn Snowden had 3 hits with 2 doubles and 5 RBI. C Rick Mansoor had 2 hits and a walk, scored a run and had 2 RBI.

[Questdog]

Tuesday, April 22, 2003

Portland Beavers (8-6 .571 2 GB tied for 2nd place in the PCL West) at
San Francisco Seals (7-7 .500 3 GB tied for 4th place in the PCL West)

POR: Bill Woodward (22-R 0-1 6.30) Rookie vs. SF: Jim Dobson (23-R 0-1 5.40) Rookie

After a decent Major League debut, Woodward was rocked for 6 runs in 3 IP last time out. This one could get very ugly...

Dobson is a rookie claimed off waivers from Philadelphia in February. In his Major League debut, he threw 1 pitch and gave up a hit and had to leave the game with an injury. In his last outing, he only gave up 4 hits in 5 IP, but walked 6 and gave up 3 runs.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
PORTLAND
1: RF Jerry Suazo (28-L .193-57-1-3-.466 91)
2: CF Brian Mitchell (22-L .326-46-0-2-.773 75)
3: LF Kim Springer (22-L .216-51-0-5-.509 67)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (26-R .300-50-1-12-.815 70) Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star(MVP)/Gold Glove(01)
5: 3B Fernando Mexicano (22-L .333-51-4-12-1.070 55) Silver Slugger
6: C Rick Mansoor (29-R .421-19-0-5-.995 77)
7: SS Dave Risinger (27-R .156-45-0-7-.594 88)
8: 2B A.J. Lee (23-R .286-14-1-3-.946 95)
9: P Bill Woodward (22-R .000-2-0-0-.000 45) Rookie

SAN FRANCISCO
1: 2B George Cowles (29-R .263-57-0-2-.730 80)
2: CF Jerry Serrano (29-R .373-51-3-11-1.065 72) Gold Glove(RF)
3: LF Clay Laurence (23-R .340-53-3-11-1.030 91) 2-time Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star/Golf Glove(01-RF)
4: RF Dave McDowell (32-R .259-54-2-11-.831 81) 2-time MVP/Silver Slugger(LF)/2-time All-Star
5: SS Bruce Webber (26-S .333-54-3-12-.936 65) Silver Slugger(2B)
6: 3B Brian Dube (29-R .292-48-2-8-.780 73)
7: 1B Jon Proulx (28-S .154-13-0-1-.368 82)
8: C Bruce Jump (34-R .200-40-2-7-.754 50)
9: P Jim Dobson (23-L ----0-0-0-1.000 51) Rookie

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Candlestick Park
Weather: 62 F, Clear Skies, with an 11 MPH wind blowing in from right
Attendance: 22,544

Top of the First:
Jerry Suazo takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Brian Mitchell grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4. He steals 2nd. Kim Springer pops out to right. Glenn Snowden unloads on a 1-1 pitch and hits it 460 ft. to straight away center!! 2 to 0, Beavers! He seems to have come alive as soon as I mentioned that he was off to a slow start! Fernando Mexicano walks on 4 pitches. Rick Mansoor grounds out to 1st, 3-1.

Bottom of the First:
Cross your fingers and toes... George Cowles takes a 3-2 pitch for strike three! Keep 'em crossed! Jerry Serrano flies out to left. Cross them real tight, now! Clay Laurence grounds a hit to center. He steals 2nd. Dave McDowell walks. Bill Webber grounds out to 2nd!!

Bottom of the Second:
Bran Dube and John Proulx lead off with back to back hits and runners are at the corners with no outs. Bruce Jump lines a hit to center and Dube scores. 2 to 1, Beavers. P Jim Dobson strikes out trying to bunt. George Cowles pops out to center. Jerry Serrano lines a hit to center and Proulx scores. Tie Game: 2 to 2. Clay Laurence bloops a hit to center and Jump heads home. Brian Mitchell's throw is cut off by Dave Risinger and he nails Serrano at 3rd! But the run counts. 3 to 2, Seals.

Top of the Fifth:
With 2 outs, Kim Springer doubles to left center. Glenn Snowden and Fernando Mexicano both walk to load the bases up. That is 6 walks issued by P Jim Dobson. Rick Mansoor grounds a hit to right and 2 runs score!! 4 to 3, Beavers! Dave Risinger takes a 3-2 pitch for walk #7 and loads the bases back up. A.J. Lee strikes out for Dobson's 6th K. He is at 107 pitches already.

Top of the Seventh:
New Pitcher: Tom Cruzan (26-R), a rookie with a 9.28 ERA in 10.2 IP. He was another waiver claim in January from Sacramento. Kim Springer triples to right center! Glenn Snowden strikes out looking... They walk Fernando Mexicano intentionally. Rick Mansoor grounds a hit to center and Springer scores and Mexicano goes to 3rd! 5 to 3, Beavers! Mansoor is the Man for Sure!... Lame, you say? Dave Risinger walks to load the bases up with 1 out. A.J. Lee grounds into a force at home, 6-2. 2 outs. PH Oscar Trejo (30-R) takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 and forces in a run! 6 to 3, Beavers! Jerry Suazo strikes out...

Bottom of the Seventh:
New Pitcher: Jon Weekley (27-R). Bruce Jump jumps on a cutter and doubles to right. With 1 out, he goes to 3rd on a ground out. Jerry Serrano plops one down in front of the plate, but C Rick Mansoor fumbles with it until Jump scores... E-2. 6 to 4, Beavers. Clay Laurence plops another one in front of the plate, but Mansoor makes the play this time!

Top of the Ninth:
On the Hill: Doug Kimball (25-R), yet another rookie pitcher, but he is one that has not allowed a run yet in 10 innings, including the 8th inning of this game. Dave Risinger draws a walk and A.J. Lee bunts him to 2nd. A wild pitch sends him to 3rd. PH Carlos Lopez (28-L) works the count to 3-0, but then strikes out anyway.... 2 outs. Jerry Suazo grounds out to the pitcher...

Bottom of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Roy Huls (22-R). Juan Rojas (24-S) is in to play 2nd and A.J. Lee moves to 3rd. 7-8-9 up for the Seals. After two strikeouts, PH Jim Robbins (28-R), who is 3 for 6 with a double on the season, doubles to center. George Cowles strikes out looking and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Beavers!

Won - 6 to 4

Mini-sweep!

We had 8 hits and made 1 error
San Francisco had 8 hits and made no errors

We drew 12 walks!

Bill Woodward (W 1-1), with his 1st Major League win, went 6 innings, allowed 3 runs, 6 hits, 2 walks and struck out 4. Nice start against the Mighty Seals!
RHP Jon Weekley (H 1) went 2 innings, allowed 1 unearned run, 1 hit, 1 walk and struck out 2.
Roy Huls (SV 4) pitched a scoreless 9th, allowed 1 hit and struck out 3.

Jim Dobson (L 0-2) went 6 innings, gave us 4 runs, 5 hits, 1 home run, 7 walks and struck out 6.

Jerry Suazo went 0 for 4, but drew 2 walks. LF Kim Springer hit a double and a triple and scored 2 runs. 1B Glenn Snowden had 2 hits with his 2nd home run of the year, drew 2 walks, scored 2 runs and 2 RBI. 3B Fernando Mexicano did not have a hit, but walked 4 times (1 INT). C Rick Mansoor had 2 hits, scored a run and had 3 RBI. SS Dave Risinger had a hit and 3 walks. He now has 11 walks and 47 AB. He had 25 BB and 413 AB last year. Although, on the flip side, he hit .278 last year and is only hitting .170 so far this year. PH Oscar Trejo drew a bases loaded walk.

Down on the Farm: Rookie C Tim Higbee (20-S) missed a Cycle because he did not hit a single. He scored 2 runs and had 6 RBI. His 3 XBH were the only XBH of the game by anyone. The outburst raised his average to .291. He has only 3 BB and 11 SO in 55 AB and has made 3 errors, so he is still a bit rough around the edges. Rookie SP John Krawczyk pitched a CG 4 hitter in the 10 to 1 win at home versus the San Jose Bees, who had our old friend, Don Neumann (33-S), batting 5th and playing left field. He had 1 of the 4 hits.

[Questdog]

Thursday, April 24, 2003

We are in Holly wood to play the Stars a 4 game series through the weekend. They just lost a pair of games at Los Angeles by the scores of 3 to 2 and 1 to 0. We were 4-10 against them in both 2001 and 2002. They are currently 15th in scoring in the PCL with 2.93 runs per game (Portland is up to 4th with 5.33). They are hitting .265 and have a .342 OBP, but are last in doubles with 14 and tied for 2nd to last in HR with 5. Last year they were 3rd with 736 runs. They are 13th in fewest runs allowed with 5.07 (Portland is tied for 3rd with 3.40). Their pitching staff is the opposite of the Seals. Their starters have been decent with a 3.79 ERA, but their Bullpen is the worst in the PCL with a 7.14 ERA. Our Bullpen is at 2.33, currently the 2nd best! Sacramento is better with a 1.86 ERA. But our Pen has the lowest OPS at .483! The Stars run differential is -32 after only 15 game and ours is +29 after back to back blowout wins! Only Dallas is better than us with a +44.

Portland Beavers (9-6 .600 2 GB in 2nd place in the PCL West) at
Hollywood Stars (4-11 .267 7 GB in 8th (last) place in the PCL West)

POR: Bobby Johnson (24-R 1-2 4.00) vs. HOL: Tom Walters (27-R 0-2 5.79)

After two clunkers to start the season, Johnson finally had a decent start last time out with 2 runs allowed in 7.2 IP with 5 H and 2 BB allowed. He had walked 10 in his first two starts.

Walters has allowed at least 4 runs in each of his 3 starts, though he has struck out 18 in 18.2 IP. He was 1-1 in 3 starts against us last year with a very good start in the win and the other two being pretty stinky.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
PORTLAND
1: RF Jerry Suazo (28-L .180-61-1-3-.460 91) 11 SO
2: CF Brian Mitchell (22-L .294-51-0-2-.702 75) 11 R/3 SB
3: LF Kim Springer (22-L .232-56-0-5-.588 67) 1 BB/14 SO
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (26-R .321-53-2-14-.919 70) Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star(MVP)/Gold Glove(01) 3 2B/8 BB/5 SO
5: 3B Fernando Mexicano (22-L .327-52-4-12-1.089 55) Silver Slugger 5 2B/10 BB
6: C Rick Mansoor (29-R .417-24-0-8-.958 77) 4 BB
7: 2B A.J. Lee (23-R .278-18-1-3-.850 95)
8: SS Juan Rojas (24-S .212-52-0-5-.510 89) 1 BB/12 SO
9: P Bobby Johnson (24-R .167-6-0-1-.476 1)

HOLLYWOOD
1: RF Fred Rambo (26-L .288-52-0-1-.788 58) 5 2B/10 BB/5 SB
2: 2B Gus McCollum (31-R .322-59-0-5-.757 66) 1 SO/4 SB
3: CF Jose Naranjo (29-R .393-56-2-9-1.043 44) 2-time All-Star 4 2B/3 SB
4: C Steve Bone (28-R .220-50-1-6-.563 48) 2-time All-Star
5: LF Bud Lisk (28-L .282-39-0-4-.716 72) Back spasms 7 BB
6: 3B Larry Church (28-L .292-48-2-6-.834 56) 9 BB
7: 1B Rick Gorges (27-R .250-8-0-0-.500 88)
8: SS Jerry Hatcher (26-R .156-45-0-1-.487 100) 10 BB
9: P Tom Walters (27-R .200-5-0-0-.400 1)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Gilmore Stadium
Weather: 72 F, Clear Skies, with a 7 MPH wind blowing right to left
Attendance: 16,960

Editor's Note: Gilmore Stadium is a clone of Dodger Stadium.

Top of the First:
Jerry Suazo grounds out to short. Brian Mitchell strikes out on 3 pitches. Kim Springer pops out to left...

Bottom of the First:
Fred Rambo fouls out to 3rd. Gus McCollum grounds out to 3rd. Jose Naranjo grounds out to short! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the Third:
With 1 out, Jerry Hatcher lines a hit to left and then P Tom Walters bunts him to 2nd. Fred Rambo comes through with a 2 out hit to center, but Brian Mitchell throws Hatcher out at home!

Top of the Sixth:
Jerry Suazo pokes a hit to right just over the glove of 1B Rick Gorges. Brian Mitchell bunts the runner over. Kim Springer doubles to right and Suazo scores! 1 to 0, Beavers! Glenn Snowden grounds out to 2nd and Springer goes to 3rd. 2 outs. They walk Fernando Mexicano intentionally. A wild pitch scores Springer! 2 to 0, Beavers! Rick Mansoor grounds out to 1st, 3-1.

Bottom of the Eighth:
P Bobby Johnson has only thrown 69 pitches. Rick Gorges grounds a hit to center. We get the Bullpen up. Jerry Hatcher grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4. With 2 outs, Fred Rambo doubles to center and Hatcher scores from 1st... 2 to 1, Beavers. Call to the Bullpen: Roy Huls (22-R). Larry Ballard is in to play left in a double switch. Gus McCollum, who has struck out once all season, strikes out, looking!!!

Top of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Javier Fernandez (23-R), yet another rooking and making his Major League debut to boot. SD Oscar Cervantes thinks he will be a star, but he is a slacker. Glenn Snowden takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. With 1 out, Rick Mansoor grounds a double over the 3rd base bag and Snowden scores from 1st! 3 to 1, Beavers! The next two make outs...

Bottom of the Ninth:
Dave Risinger is into play short. Juan Rojas moves to 2nd and A.J. Lee moves to 3rd. We could use another infielder on the team who can play good defense for when we want to rest a starter. 3-4-5 hitters up for Hollywood. Jose Naranjo lines a 1-2 pitch to right for a hit. Steve Bone grounds into a 6-4-3 double play!! Bud Lisk lines one to left, but Larry Ballard runs it down and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Beavers!

Won - 3 to 1

We had 7 hits and made no errors
Holly wood had 6 hits and made no errors

Bobby Johnson (W 2-2) went 7.2 innings, allowed 1 run, 5 hits, 1 walk and struck out 3. 79 pitches.
RHP Roy Huls (SV 5), who, if you had not noticed, is definitely being used as our Ace Reliever, went 1.1 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit and struck out 1.

Tom Walters (L 0-3) went 6 innings, gave us 2 runs, 5 hits, 1 walk and struck out 3. He threw a WP.

LF Kim Springer hit a double, scored a run and had an RBI. 1B Glenn Snowden had a hit and a walk and scored a run. 3B Fernando Mexicano had a hit and a walk (INT). C Rick Mansoor hit a double and had an RBI. 2B/3B A.J. Lee had 2 hits. 2B Juan Rojas had better pick it up or he will find that his job is being taken...

[Questdog]

Friday, April 25, 2003

Portland Beavers (10-6 .625 2 GB in 2nd place in the PCL West) at
Hollywood Stars (4-12 .250 8 GB in 8th (last) place in the PCL West)

POR: Steve Muir (28-R 2-1 3.43) Gold Glove(01) vs. HOL: Steve Meyers (27-R 0-3 5.82)

Muir gave up 2 runs in 8 IP in his last start. He has only struck out 3 batters in 3 starts on the season. 1.3 SO/9, down from 5.0 last year.

Meyers led the PCL in SO (192) in 2001. In his last start, he allowed 8 runs (7 earned) in 6.2 IP and did not strike out anyone. He was 1-0 in 2 starts against us last season. In the win, he went 8 IP and gave us 2 runs. In the no decision, he gave us 5 runs in 6.2 IP.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
PORTLAND
1: RF Jerry Suazo (28-L .185-65-1-3-.463 91)
2: CF Brian Mitchell (22-L .278-54-0-2-.665 75)
3: LF Carlos Lopez (28-L .429-14-0-5-.967 70)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (26-R .321-56-2-14-.915 70) Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star(MVP)/Gold Glove(01)
5: 3B Fernando Mexicano (22-L .327-55-4-12-1.076 55) Silver Slugger
6: C Rick Mansoor (29-R .393-28-0-9-.933 77)
7: SS Dave Risinger (27-R .170-47-0-7-.647 88)
8: 2B Juan Rojas (24-S .196-56-0-5-.474 104)
9: P Steve Muir (28-R .167-6-0-1-.500 36) Gold Glove (01)

HOLLYWOOD
1: RF Fred Rambo (26-L .304-56-0-2-.820 58)
2: 2B Gus McCollum (31-R .302-63-0-5-.712 66)
3: CF Jose Naranjo (29-R .407-59-2-9-1.065 44) 2-time All-Star
4: LF Bud Lisk (28-L .256-43-0-4-.655 72) Back spasms
5: 1B Bobby Deaton (28-S .310-42-0-5-.659 74)
6: 3B Larry Church (28-L .275-51-2-6-.789 56)
7: SS Jerry Hatcher (26-R .167-48-0-1-.498 100)
8: C Karl Weber (34-R .250-8-0-0-.583 78)
9: P Steve Meyers (27-L .250-8-0-0-.500 11)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Gilmore Stadium
Weather: 75 F, Clear Skies, with a 9 MPH wind blowing out to left
Attendance: 21,157

Top of the First:
Jerry Suazo grounds out to the pitcher... Brian Mitchell lines a hit to center. He steals 2nd and goes to 3rd when C Karl Weber throws the ball into the outfield. Carlos Lopez grounds out to 2nd and Mitchell scores. 1 to 0, Beavers! Glenn Snowden takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Fernando Mexicano grounds out to short.

Bottom of the First:
Fred Rambo lines a hit to left. Gus McCollum swings at the first pitch and grounds into a 1-6-3 double play! Jose Naranjo swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 3rd!

Top of the Second:
With 1 out, Dave Risinger beats out an infield hit and then steals 2nd. With 2 outs, P Steve Muir grounds a hit to left and Risinger scores! 2 to 0, Beavers!

Top of the Third:
With 1 out, Glenn Snowden lines a home run to right! 3 to 0, Beavers!

Bottom of the Third:
Jerry Hatcher grounds an 0-2 pitch to right for a hit. He advances to 3rd on a couple of ground outs and then scores on a wild pitch... 3 to 1, Beavers.

Bottom of the Sixth:
Fred Rambo takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. We get the Bullpen up. Gus McCollum lines a hit to left. Jose Naranjo lines one back to the box and P Steve Muir snags it! He has to be the leader in that department! Bud Lisk grounds a hit to center and the bases are loaded with 1 out. Call to the Bullpen: LHP Victor Alvarez (29-L). We need a strikeout or a double play ball and he is good at both, but also does not have the best control... Bobby Deaton strikes out looking! Larry Church grounds out to 1st, unassisted!!

Top of the Seventh:
Jerry Suazo takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Brian Mitchell swings at the first pitch and lines a hit to left. With 1 out, Glenn Snowden lines a hit to right and the bases are loaded. A wild pitch scores Suazo! 4 to 1, Beavers! They walk Fernando Mexicano intentionally. Rick Mansoor draws a walk to force in a run!! 5 to 1, Beavers! P Steve Meyers hits the showers. New Pitcher: Jerry Foley (34-R) with a 3.18 ERA in 5.2 IP. He was signed as a free agent this winter. For Boston last year, he had a 4.18 ERA in 88.1 IP with 6 GS. Dave Risinger beats out an infield hit and Snowden scores! 6 to 1, Beavers! Juan Rojas lines a hit to left and Mexicano scores! 7 to 1, Beavers! PH Oscar Trejo (30-R) pops out to center and the runners hold. 2 outs. Jerry Suazo grounds a hit to right and 2 runs score!! 9 to 1, Beavers! Brian Mitchell grounds out to short.

Top of the Eighth:
Carlos Lopez singles and, with 1 out, Fernando Mexicano doubles to right center. Rick Mansoor grounds out to short and Lopez scores. 10 to 1, Beavers! Dave Risinger lines a hit to right. Juan Rojas grounds a hit to center and Mexicano scores! 11 to 1, Beavers!

Won - 11 to 2

7 wins in a row!
We have outscored the opposition, 54 to 14, during the streak!
We have only hit 3 HR in the 7 games, but the opponents have not hit any!
Our record for homerless games by our pitchers is 8, set in 2001.

We had 14 hits and made 2 errors
Hollywood had 5 hits and made 2 errors

Steve Muir (W 3-1) went 5.1 innings, allowed 1 run, 4 hits, 2 walks and struck out 1. He threw 2 WP. At bat, he had a hit and an RBI.
LHP Victor Alvarez (H 2) faced 2 batters with the bases loaded and got them both out with 1 strikeout.
RHP Denny Jennissen went 1 scoreless inning, allowed 1 walk and struck out 1.
RHP Rich Larkin went 2 innings, allowed 1 unearned run, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 HBO and struck out 3.

Steve Meyers (L 0-4) went 6.1 innings, gave us 8 runs, 7 hits, 1 home run, 6 walks (1 INT), 1 HBP and struck out 7. 126 pitches.

RF Jerry Suazo had a hit and 2 walks, scored a run and had 2 RBI. CG Brian Mitchell had 2 hits, stole a base and scored 2 runs. 1B Glenn Snowden had 2 hits with his 3rd home run of the season, drew a walk, was hit by a pitch and scored 2 runs. He was beaned the AB after he hit the home run, but no fight ensued. 3B Fernando Mexicano hit a double, drew 2 walks (1 INT) and scored 2 runs. C Rick Mansoor did not have a hit, but drew a bases loaded walk, scored a run and had 2 RBI. SS Dave Risinger had 3 hits, stole a base, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. 2B Juan Rojas had 3 hits and 2 RBI.

[Questdog]

Saturday, April 26, 2003

Today is Frank "No-No" Flores' 24th birthday!

Portland Beavers (11-6 .647 2 GB in 2nd place in the PCL West) at
Hollywood Stars (4-13 .235 9 GB in 8th (last) place in the PCL West)

POR: Frank Flores (23-R 2-1 3.54) vs. HOL: Craig Raposo (25-R Season debut)

Flores pitched a No-No his last time out, but was pretty weak in his first two starts of the season.

Raposo was 7-3 with a 3.47 ERA as a rookie last year in 15 starts, but his season ended on June 22 with a torn labrum. He has made 3 starts for Las Vegas (A) this year, going 0-2 with a 6.57 ERA, though he only walked 3 and struck out 14 in 12.1 IP. We faced him once last year and scored 6 runs in 7.1 IP, but he escaped with a no decision as we lost the game in extra innings.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
PORTLAND
1: RF Jerry Suazo (28-L .188-69-1-5-.485 91)
2: CF Brian Mitchell (22-L .283-60-0-2-.665 75)
3: LF Kim Springer (22-L .233-60-0-6-.599 70)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (26-R .339-59-3-15-1.002 70) Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star(MVP)/Gold Glove(01)
5: 3B Fernando Mexicano (22-L .328-58-4-12-1.089 55) Silver Slugger
6: C Rick Mansoor (29-R .344-32-0-11-.839 77)
7: SS Dave Risinger (27-R .212-52-0-8-.695 88)
8: 2B Juan Rojas (24-S .230-61-0-7-.533 104)
9: P Frank Flores (24-R .125-8-0-3-.250 39)

HOLLYWOOD
1: RF Fred Rambo (26-L .305-59-0-3-.829 58)
2: 2B Gus McCollum (31-R .294-68-0-5-.690 66)
3: CF Jose Naranjo (29-R .381-63-2-9-1.000 44) 2-time All-Star
4: C Steve Bone (28-R .218-55-1-6-.549 48) 2-time All-Star
5: 1B Bobby Deaton (28-S .289-45-0-5-.617 74)
6: LF Bud Lisk (28-L .261-46-0-4-.668 72) Back spasms
7: 3B Larry Church (28-L .255-55-2-6-.736 56)
8: SS Jerry Hatcher (26-R .176-51-0-1-.519 100)
9: P Craig Raposo (25-R Season debut 31)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Gilmore Stadium
Weather: 70 F, Clear Skies, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to left
Attendance: 20,713

Top of the First:
Jerry Suazo swings at a 3-2 pitch and strikes out... Brian Mitchell grounds a hit to right. He steals his 5th base of the season. Kim Springer walks on 4 pitches, only his second walk of the year. Mitchell steals 3rd. Now that puts a runner on 3rd with less than 2 outs, which means Glenn Snowden will make an unproductive out... He fouls out to 1st... Hate when I am right... Fernando Mexicano pops out to 1st...

Bottom of the First:
Fred Rambo grounds out to 1st, 3-1. Gus McCollum takes care of our dreams about back to back no-hitters with a little looper to left for a single. He gets caught stealing! Jose Naranjo flies out to right!

Bottom of the Third:
Jerry Hatcher, another sub-.200 hitter that we cannot get out, grounds a hit to right and steals 2nd. P Craig Raposo tries to bunt him to 3rd, but pops out to the pitcher. Fred Rambo grounds out to short and Hatcher goes to 3rd. Gus McCollum grounds out to short!

Top of the Sixth:
Jerry Suazo leads off with a home run to right! 1 to 0, Beavers! Brian Mitchell triples to left center! Kim Springer doubles to left center and Mitchell scores! 2 to 0, Beavers! We need a single now for a Cycle in 4 batters! A wild pitch sends Springer to 3rd... That means a single is out of the cards... Another foul out is on tap... No, Glenn Snowden actually makes a productive out with a SF to center! 3 to 0, Beavers!

Won - 3 to 0

No No-No, but back to back shutouts for Frank Flores on his birthday!
8 wins in a row!
All on the road!

We also tied our personal record for not allowing a home run in 8 straight games!

For the 3rd year in a row, we are playing better on the road than at home...
2001: 32 wins at home, 35 on the road
2002: 37 wins at home, 42 on the road
2003: 2-4 at home, 10-2 on the road

We had 8 hits and made no errors
Hollywood had 6 hits and made no errors

Frank Flores (W 3-1) went 9 shutout innings (CG), allowed 6 hits, 1 walk and struck out 5. 121 pitches. At bat, he had a hit.

Craig Raposo (L 0-1) went 7 innings, gave us 3 runs, 6 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks and struck out 7. He threw a WP.

RF Jerry Suazo hit his 2nd home run of the season. CF Brian Mitchell had 3 hits with a triple, stole 2 bases and scored a run. LF Kim Springer hit a double and drew a walk, scored a run and had an RBI. 1B Glenn Snowden hit a double and had an RBI.

[Questdog]

Sunday, April 27, 2003

Portland Beavers (12-6 .667 1 GB in 2nd place in the PCL West) at
Hollywood Stars (4-14 .222 9 GB in 8th (last) place in the PCL West)

POR: Rondey Moe (27-R 3-0 2.25) vs. HOL: Gerry Sullivan (26-R 1-2 2.45)

Moe had his worst start of the year last time out, but still got a win. He gave up 3 runs and 10 hits, but only 1 walk in 8 IP. I have a feeling that that will not be his worst start of the year come October...

Sullivan was 2-0 in 3 starts against the Beavers last year. On the final day of the season, he beat us with 7.1 shutout inning, with only 4 hits and no walks allowed with 7 strikeouts.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
PORTLAND
1: RF Jack Hinckley (27-R .357-14-0-1-.900 99)
2: CF Brian Mitchell (22-L .313-64-0-2-.746 75)
3: LF Kim Springer (22-L .238-63-0-7-.629 70)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (26-R .339-62-3-16-1.002 70) Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star(MVP)/Gold Glove(01)
5: 3B Fernando Mexicano (22-L .311-61-4-12-1.047 55) Silver Slugger
6: C Rick Mansoor (29-R .306-36-0-11-.751 77)
7: SS Dave Risinger (27-R .214-56-0-8-.683 88)
8: 2B Juan Rojas (24-S .215-65-0-7-.500 104)
9: P Rondey Moe (27-L .400-10-0-1-.800 1)

HOLLYWOOD
1: RF Fred Rambo (26-L .306-62-0-3-.830 58)
2: 2B Gus McCollum (31-R .292-72-0-5-.679 66)
3: CF Jose Naranjo (29-R .358-67-2-9-.943 44) 2-time All-Star
4: C Steve Bone (28-R .237-59-1-6-.578 48) 2-time All-Star
5: 1B Bobby Deaton (28-S .286-49-0-5-.608 74)
6: LF Bud Lisk (28-L .240-50-0-4-.619 72) Back spasms
7: 3B Larry Church (28-L .241-58-2-6-.700 56)
8: SS Jerry Hatcher (26-R .185-54-0-1-.527 100)
9: P Gerry Sullivan (26-R .000-5-0-0-.000 1)

Game Start: 1:05 PM
Ballpark: Gilmore Stadium
Weather: 59 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 13 MPH wind blowing out to left
Attendance: 19,414

Top of the First:
Jack Hinckley swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses... Brian Mitchell pops out to short. Kim Springer takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4! 3 walks on the season and 2 in 2 days! Glenn Snowden grounds out to short.

Bottom of the First:
Fred Rambo swings at a 3-2 pitch and beats out an infield hit. P Rondey Moe tries to pick him off at 1st and throws the ball away for an error... Gus McCollum lines out to left. Rambo steals 3rd. Jose Naranjo takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. He gets caught stealing 2nd! 2 outs. So here comes a hit... Steve Bone pops out to right!! The Power of Positive Thinking!

Top of the Second:
With 2 outs, Dave Risinger loops a hit to center and then steals 2nd. Juan Rojas swings at a 3-2 pitch and lines a hit to left and Risinger scores! 1 to 0, Beavers! P Rondey Moe walks on 4 pitches! Jack Hinckley grounds out to 2nd.

Bottom of the Sixth:
Jose Naranjo leads off by knocking one off the wall in left center and by the time anyone can corral the ball, Naranjo has circled the bases with an inside the park home run... Tie Game: 1 to 1. Steve Bone lines a hit to center. The Bullpen gets active. Bobby Deaton lines a pitch over the wall in left.... 3 to 1, Stars. The wheels fell off quickly there... Only 2 hits and no runs through 5 innings... Bud Lisk grounds one to 2nd, and Juan Rojas drops the ball as he was transferring it from his glove to his throwing hand... E-4. So now the wheels don't just fall off P Rondey Moe, but the whole team.... Call to the Bullpen: Vic Kyzer (24-L). Larry Church bunts the runner up. Jerry Hatcher grounds out to the pitcher and Lisk goes to 3rd. PH John Burkey (28-L), 3 for 16 on the year (.188), strikes out.

Top of the Seventh:
New Pitcher: Chris Baillargeon (34-R), who is pitching in his 3rd game of the series. So far, he has 3 scoreless innings against us. Juan Rojas draws a walk. PH Oscar Trejo (30-R) flies out to left. Jack Hinckley takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Brian Mitchell lines a hit to center and the bases are loaded with 1 out. Kim Springer strikes out on 3 pitches.... Glenn Snowden walks on 4 pitches to force in a run. 3 to 2, Stars. Fernando Mexicano swings at a 3-2 pitch and pops out to short....

Bottom of the Seventh:
New Pitcher: Victor Alvarez (29-L). Fred Rambo grounds a hit to left and Kim Springer overruns the ball for an error and Rambo is at 2nd... 4 errors for the team today... Call to the Bullpen: John Weekley (27-R). With 1 out, we walk Jose Naranjo intentionally. Steve Bone grounds into a 4-6-3 double play!! It actually worked!

Top of the Ninth:
P Chris Baillargeon is still on the Hill. But our pitcher is up and they are probably just waiting to see who we send up to hit... Their closer is rested, though he is a rookie who has only pitched in 1 game all season and it was not in a save situation. It was against us yesterday and he gave us a run. Carlos Lopez (28-L) is sent up and they make the change to their closer. New Pitcher: Javier Fernandez (23-R), the kid that SD Oscar Cervantes thinks will be a star, but is a slacker, so I don't care. Lopez grounds out to 2nd... Jack Hinckley pops out to short... Brian Mitchell loops a hit to left center. Kim Springer grounds out to 2nd....

Lost - 3 to 2

The winning streak ends at 8 games...
Homerless streak by our opponents ends at 8 games...

We had 8 hits (all singles) and made 4 errors, tying our all-time record
Hollywood had 6 hits and made no errors

Rondey Moe (L 3-1) went 5+ innings, allowed 3 runs, 5 hits, 2 home runs, 3 walks, 1 HBP and struck out 3. At bat, he drew a walk.
LHP Vic Kyzer pitched a perfect inning with 1 strikeout.
LHP Victor Alvarez faced 1 batter and gave up his first hit of the season.
RHP Jon Weekley went 2 scoreless innings and allowed 3 walks (2 INT).

Gerry Sullivan went 5 innings, gave us 1 run, 6 hits, 2 walks and struck out 2.
RHP Jerry Foley (W 1-1) pitched a perfect inning with 1 strikeout.
RHP Javier Fernandez (SV 1) pitched a scoreless 9th and gave us 1 hit.

RF Jack Hinckley had a hit and a walk. CF Brian Mitchell had 3 hits. 2B Juan Rojas had 2 hits and a walk, scored a run and had an RBI.

For Hollywood, RF Fred Rambo had 3 hits.

[Questdog]

April 28, 2003

Monday Morning Report
NL Player of the Week - Billy Fritts, SP, Boston (28-L 2-1 2.79) 2-0 0.00 2 GS, 14 IP, 5 H, 0 HR, 1 BB, 9 SO. Pitched a 5 hit shutout and 5 innings of no hit ball, but had to leave with a sore hamstring.
PCL Player of the Week - Dennis Allen, C, Dallas (28-R .403/.431/.672) Had 11 hits with 1 2B, 3 HR, 1 BB, 2 SO, 8 R and 14 RBI in 6 G (5 GS)

(Slash lines are for the season, not the week)

April 21 - 1B Luis Hernandez (34-R) of Seattle, an ex-Beaver, went 4 for 4 with a double and a home run, walked twice, scored 4 runs and had 2 RBI at San Diego. The Rainiers won, 13 to 10.
April 21 - RF Duane Cage (27-S) of Cleveland had 3 hits with a home run and a walk, scored 2 runs and had 5 RBI at Pittsburgh. The Indians won, 10 to 6.
April 22 - C Dennis Allen (28-R) of Dallas had 5 hots with 2 home runs, scored 4 runs and had 8 RBI at San Antonio, tying the Major League record. 3B Fernando Mexicano (22-L) of Portland had held the PCL record all alone since June of last season. The Eagles won, 16 to 2. The 4 runs also ties the Major League record shared by many.
April 22 - Graham Pethel (26-R) of Kansas City pitched a 4 hit shutout at Houston. He walked 4 and struck out 6. The Royals won, 1 to 0, and only had 5 hits themselves.
April 22 - Billy Fritts (28-L) of Boston pitched a 5 hit shutout at home versus Philadelphia. He did not walk a batter and struck out 4. At bat, he had a hit. The Braves won, 4 to 0. Who says lefties can't pitch at Fenway?
April 22 - Raul Alvarado (27-L) of Montreal pitched a 1 hit shutout at home versus Baltimore. He walked 2 and struck out 9. At bat, he had a hit and a walk. It is his 2nd shutout of the season. The Expos won, 6 to 0.
April 23 - Minnesota lost 3B Larry Murphy (23-R) for the season to a torn ACL. He is a career .295 hitter and led the PCL in walks with 130 in 2001. His season ended on June 25 last year with a torn ACL.
April 23 - 2B Greg Hobbs (29-R) of Milwaukee hit 2 home runs, drew a walk, scored 3 runs and had 5 RBI at Salt Lake City. The Brewers won, 8 to 3. The Bees have lost 10 games in a row.
April 23 - Bob Showalter (29-R) of Brooklyn pitched a 5 hit shutout at Washington. He walked 4 and struck out 2. The Dodgers won, 1 to 0, and only had 5 hits themselves, though 4 were doubles.
April 23 - Richard Oliver (33-R) of Chicago pitched a 5 hit shutout at home versus St. Louis. He walked 2 and struck out 2. At bat, he had a hit and a walk and scored a run. It is his 2nd shutout of the season. The Cubs won, 4 to 0.
April 24 - C Dennis Allen (28-R) of Dallas, tow days after having 8 RBI, goes 3 for 3 with a double and a home run, drew a walk scored 3 runs and had 5 RBI at home versus Milwaukee. The Eagles won, 8 to 4. Allen now has 24 RBI in 16 games!
April 24 - 2B Jim Markham (25-R) of Brooklyn hit a double and a home run and had 5 RBI at Philadelphia. The Dodgers won, 6 to 0. The Dodgers turned an around the horn triple play in the game.
April 25 - Felipe Diaz (26-R) of Baltimore pitched a 2 hit shutout at home versus Toronto. He walked 1 and struck out 2. 88 pitches thrown. The Orioles won, 1 to 0, and only had 3 hits themselves.
April 26 - C Joe Taylor (22-R) of Denver had 3 hits with 2 home runs, scored 2 runs and had 3 RBI at home versus Kansas City. He also threw out 3 of 4 base stealers. The Bears won, 10 to 7. Why did I not trade fro him when I had the chance? There is only one reason: I am an idiot. He was the player I wanted out of that draft and when given the opportunity to get him, I balked. And now they won't take anything for him.
April 26 - Salt Lake City won at home versus San Antonio, 7 to 4, ending their 11 game losing streak.
April 27 - 1B Don Lose (23-R) of San Antonio had 4 hits with a double and a walk, stole 2 bases, scored 3 runs and had 4 RBI at Salt Lake City. The Missions won, 14 to 4.
April 27 - C Mario Vasquez (27-L) of Sacramento had 3 hits with 2 home runs, scored 3 runs and had 4 RBI at home versus Seattle. The Solons won, 5 to 1.

[Questdog]

Monday, April 28, 2003

LF Kim Springer (22-L) and CF Larry Ballard (24-L) have been sent to Vancouver (A). SS Scott Plourde (24-S) and RF Jose Julio (29-R) have been recalled. Both Plourde and Julio are having moderate success for the Mounties, but neither believes in taking a pitch. Plourde will give us a bit more versatility with our infield. Julio, because no other outfielder is hitting a lick for Vancouver.

We are back home to play the 1st place Oakland Oaks a 2 game set and hopefully enjoy our day off on Wednesday as the 1st place club ourselves. They split 4 games in San Diego over the weekend. We were 9-5 against them last year and 8-6 in 2001, though they finished ahead of us in the standings both years (everyone finished ahead of us in the standings in 2001). They are 10th in the PCL in scoring with 4.11 runs per game (Portland is 3rd with 5.21). The Oaks are only hitting .229 and have only stolen 5 bases (everyone else has at least 11), but they are tied for 5th in HR (16) and are 3rd in walks (75). We are 3rd in scoring, but only 8th in OPS (.693). They are 2nd in fewest runs allowed with 3.05 per game (Portland is up to #1 with 3.00!). They lead in ERA 2.52 to our 2.86 and lead the PCL in fewest HR allowed with only 6. We are tied for the 2nd fewest with 9. Their starters have a 2.48 ERA. The worst ERA in their rotation right now is 3.23. Their Bullpen has not been shabby either, with a 2.66 ERA, and they are the only Pen in Baseball that has not given up a home run. Their run differential is +20 and ours is +42. We are -5 in 6 games at home, though.

Oakland Oaks (13-6 .684 in 1st place in the PCL West) at
Portland Beavers (12-7 .632 1 GB in 2nd place in the PCL West)

OAK: Emilio de la Torre (26-R 1-0 2.70) vs. POR: Bill Woodward (22-R 1-1 5.63) Rookie

De la Torre went 10-11 with a 4.16 ERA as a rookie last year with Denver. But this past January, he got caught on the Waiver Carousel, getting claimed 5 times, before finding a home in Oakland. This will be his 3rd start of 2003. In his first he gave up 1 run in 8.2 IP and, in his last outing, he have up 5 runs (3 earned) in 4.2 IP. We faced him once last year, right here in Portland, and he beat us, giving us only 2 runs and 5 hits and 1 walk in 7 IP.

Woodward is not exactly my first choice to send out their with 1st place on the line. This will be his 4th start of the year. he has had 2 decent ones and one bad one. His last one was his first Major League win and he did it in San Francisco, so there's that.

C Rick Mansoor had cooled off, so Jim Shippy will get a chance to reestablish himself as the starter.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
OAKLAND
1: CF Carl Folkers (25-L .171-76-1-10-.516 61) Rookie 14 SO
2: RF Gregg Buckner (24-L .260-50-1-4-.716 48) Rookie 8 BB
3: LF Javy Puente (32-S .209-67-2-7-.660 59) 2-time All-Star/Silver Slugger(01) 11 BB
4:1B Tim Metts (26-L .328-64-7-20-1.175 26) 15 R/6 2B/13 BB/4 SO
5: 3B Jeff Galka (34-R .224-67-5-14-.784 60) FA from Salt Lake City
6: 2B Mario Rodriguez (30-R .206-63-0-3-.449 81) 0 XBH/3 BB
7: C Bob Rudy (26-L .385-13-0-1-1.145 53) Rookie 3 2B/4 BB
8: SS Mike West (23-R .270-63-0-3-.660 89) Rookie 3 2B/7 BB
9: P Emilio de la Torre (26-R .000-3-0-0-.000 1) Hit .299 for Denver

PORTLAND
1: RF Jerry Suazo (28-L .189-74-2-6-.520 91) 14 SO
2: CF Brian Mitchell (22-L .338-68-0-2-.789 75) 14 R/12 SO/6 SB
3: 3B Fernando Mexicano (22-L .308-65-4-12-1.015 55) Silver Slugger 6 2B/14 BB/13 SO
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (26-R .323-65-3-17-.962 70) Silver Slugger/2-time All-Star(MVP)/Gold Glove(01) 5 2B/11 BB/5 SO
5: LF Carlos Lopez (28-L .333-21-0-6-.745 70) 1 BB/8 SO
6: C Jim Shippy (32-R .167-36-0-3-.405 61) 2 BB
7: SS Dave Risinger (27-R .217-60-0-8-.671 88) 10 R/11 BB
8: 2B Juan Rojas (24-S .235-68-0-8-.547 104) 2 BB/16 SO
9: P Bill Woodward (22-R .000-5-0-0-.000 45) Rookie 3 SO

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Metropolitan Stadium
Weather: 60 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 8 MPH wind blowing right to left
Attendance: 14,443

Top of the First:
Carl Folkers, another of those dangerous sub-.200 hitter, swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds a hit to left. Gregg Buckner loops a hit to center. Javy Puente, trying to boost his sagging stats, swings at a 3-0 pitch and grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6, and Folkers goes to 3rd. Tim Metts, who leads all Baseball with 7 HR, grounds into a 4-6-3 double play!!!

Bottom of the First:
Jerry Suazo grounds an 0-2 pitch to right for a hit. This Oakland defense is not very good. They are good at 2nd and short, but that is it. Brian Mitchell grounds a hit to right and Suazo takes 3rd without a throw. Mitchell steals 2nd. Fernando Mexicano lines out so hard to right that Suazo does not have time to get back to 3rd and tag up... Glenn Snowden takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load them up with 1 out. Carlos Lopez takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to force in a run! 1 to 0, Beavers! Jim Shippy swings at a 3-2 pitch and flies out to right and Mitchell tags up and heads home, but gets thrown out by rookie Gregg Buckner...

Bottom of the Second:
Dave Risinger gets beaned. With 1 out, P Bill Woodward bunts him to 2nd. Jerry Suazo hits a grounder to 3rd, but Jeff Galka boots it! Brian Mitchell beats out an infield hit and Risinger scores! 2 to 0, Beavers! Fernando Mexicano swings out of his shoes at a 3-2 pitch and just makes a lot of wind...

Bottom of the Third:
Glenn Snowden lines a hit to right and Carlos Lopez beats out an infield hit. Jim Shippy grounds into a 6-4-3 double play and Snowden goes to 3rd... Dave Risinger doubles to left center and Snowden scores! 3 to 0, Beavers!

Top of the Fifth:
Bob Rudy takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4, the 3rd walk issued by P Bill Woodward today... Mike West lines a hit to center. P Emilio de la Torre bunts a 2 strike pitch foul. Carl Folkers grounds into a force at 2nd, 5-4, and Rudy goes to 3rd. 2 outs. Gregg Buckner pops out to short!

Bottom of the Sixth:
Dave Risinger triples off the wall in left center! That is his 3rd triple of the season! He hit 1 last year and 3 in 2001. Juan Rojas pops out to center and Risinger holds... P Bill Woodward grounds out to 3rd and Risinger holds... Jerry Suazo strikes out...

Bottom of the Seventh:
Brian Mitchell takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. With 1 out, Glenn Snowden doubles to right center. They walk Carlos Lopez intentionally to load the bases up for C Jim Shippy. I am tempted to pinch hit for him, but we will give him a chance at redemption. He bounces one back to the mound and they get the force at home, 1-2. Dave Risinger grounds a hit to left and 2 runs score!! 5 to 0, Beavers! There goes P Emilio de la Torre to the clubhouse. New Pitcher: Willie Perry (34-L), who has 0.1 of an inning this season. He gave up a hit and got a strikeout. Career 3.87 ERA. Juan Rojas draws a walk to load them back up for P Bill Woodward. He grounds his first Major League hit to center and 2 more runs are in!! 7 to 0, Beavers! Jerry Suazo takes a 3-2 pitch for strike three...

Top of the Ninth:
With 2 outs, 1 out away from a shutout for rookie P Bill Woodward, Jeff Galka hits a home run to left... 7 to 1, Beavers.

Won - 7 to 1

We had 12 hits and made 1 error
Oakland had 5 hits and made 1 error

Bill Woodward (W 2-1) went 9 innings (CG), allowed 1 run, 5 hits, 1 home run, 3 walks and struck out 5. 132 pitches. At bat, he had a hit and 2 RBI.

Emilio de la Torre (L 1-1) went 6.2 innings, gave us 7 runs (6 earned), 10 hits, 4 walks (1 INT), 1 HBP and struck out 2. 124 pitches.

RF Jerry Suazo had 2 hits and scored a run. His BA is over .200! (.203). CF Brian Mitchell had 2 hits, drew a walk, stole a base and had an RBI. 1B Glenn Snowden had 2 hits with a double and a walk and scored 2 runs. LF Carlos Lopez had a hit and 2 walks (1 INT), scored a run and had an RBI and did not strike out. SS Dave Risinger went 3 for 3 with a double and a triple, scored 2 runs and had 3 RBI.