The Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League (MLB)

[Questdog]

Monday, August 27, Year I

The Dallas Eagles are in town to finish up our home stand with a 3 game series. So far, at 1-4, this taste of home cooking is a bit sour. The Eagles won 2 of 3 in Oakland over the weekend and 2 of 3 from us the last time we met. We are 6-3 against them on the season and swept them in 3 games the last time they were in Portland. Yes, you guessed it, that was back in June. I miss her... Dallas leads the PCL in scoring with 4.8 runs per game (Portland is down to 10th and dropping fast with 3.8). They are 2nd in fewest runs allowed with 3.7 per game (Portland is still #1 with a rising 3.3). I think any sane person would admit that the team with the #1 offense and the #2 defense is the favorite to be the first representative of the Pacific Coast League in the new World Series over the team with the #1 defense and the #10 offense. Especially when that #1 defense has lost 2 of it's top starting pitchers to injury and another to ineffectiveness.

Dallas Eagles (77-53 .592 in 1st place in the PCL East) at
Portland Beavers (77-53 .592 in 1st place in the PCL West)

DAL: Henry Vega (25-R 5-4 3.72) vs. POR: Ron Wolf (27-R 12-10 3.32)

We have faced Vega twice. He pitched a great game against us when he was with the Seals, but when he faced us as an Eagle, he had to leave in the first inning with an injury.

Wolf has lost 5 starts in a row and has a 5.79 ERA in those games. That includes a whipping at the hands of these Eagles in Dallas.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS)
DALLAS
1: RF Chris Hagerty (24-L .286-329-4-39-.753) Rookie Trade from Portland
2: 2B Edwin Juan (24-R .258-349-5-43-.690) Rookie #16 prospect
3: 3B Qian Duan (29-R .258-380-15-58-.708) Trade from Mil 6/15
4: LF Steve DeMuro (29-L .313-402-19-70-.955) All-Star MVP
5: CF Bob Holder (26-R .263-468-11-56-.743)
6: 1B Jim Bakutis (26-S .309-139-4-15-.863) Trade from Portland
7: C Dan Kaczmarek (28-R .297-381-13-73-.831) All-Star
8: SS Phil Holliday (30-R .195-205-2-22-.584)
9: P Henry Vega (25-R .345-29-0-5-.849) Waiver claim from SF 7/1

PORTLAND
1: RF Dale Ainsworth (26-L .302-477-7-49-.782)
2: C Dennis Webb (25-L .250-248-0-14-.609)
3: LF Howard McNeal (30-R .258-279-7-32-.720)
4: 1B Randy James (32-R .263-395-13-59-.757)
5: CF Jeff Schottler (24-R .249-369-9-39-.703) Rookie
6: 3B Dave Lesley (26-R .252-305-3-34-.660)
7: SS Eddie Thomas (25-R .222-189-2-21-.575) Rookie
8: 2B Gary Long (32-R .264-470-6-46-.676)
9: P Ron Wolf (27-R .127-55-0-1-.309)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: The Skydome
Weather: 67 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 7 MPH wind blowing out to left.
Attendance: 19,360

Top of the First:
Here we go with Ron Wolf and the dreaded First Inning... Chris Hagerty lines out to right. Edwin Juan doubles down the left field line. Qian Duan lines a 3-2 pitch to left for a hit and Juan stops at 3rd. Steve DeMuro takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with 1 out. Bob Holder lines a hit to right and 2 runs score... 2 to 0, Eagles. Jim Bakutis grounds into a force at 2nd, 3-6. Dan Kaczmarek swings at the first pitch and flies out to right.

Bottom of the First:
Dale Ainsworth grounds out to 2nd. Dennis Webb lines a 2-2 pitch to center for a hit. Howard McNeal grounds into a 5-4-3 double play....

Bottom of the Third:
With 1 out, P Ron Wolf and Dale Ainsworth hit back-to-back singles and then Dennis Webb doubles them both home to tie the game at 2!! But that is all we get.

Bottom of the Sixth:
With 1 out, Howard McNeal singles, steals 2nd and goes to 3rd on a passed ball. Randy James flies out to right, fairly deep, but McNeal thinks the ball is going to drop and is almost at home when the catch is made and has to hustle to get back to 3rd instead of tagging up like any intelligent human being would do... 2 outs. They walk Jeff Schottler intentionally to get to Dave Lesley. Glenn Pearce (39-R) is sent up to hit for Lesley. He lines out to short and we blow our opportunity to score...

Top of the Seventh:
When Jim Bakutis, former Beaver, doubles of the right field wall to lead off the inning, we make a Call to the Bullpen: Curt Riley (35-R). Randy James moves over to 3rd and Jeff Austin comes in to play 1st in a double switch. I guess the theme of this inning is doubles... All-Star C Dan Kaczmarek doubles to right on a 1-2 pitch and Bakutis scores. 3 to 2, Eagles. Phil Holliday strikes out. PH Dick Gottesman (31-L) gets walked intentionally. Riley is a sidearmer who is not so great against lefties. But he has to face Chris Hagerty now, who is one... Hagerty grounds into a force a 2nd, 3-6! 2 outs. Edwin Juan lines a hit to center and Kaczmarek scores. Hagerty goes for 3rd, but CF Jeff Schottler throws him out to end the inning! 4 to 2, Eagles.

Lost - 4 to 2

We have lost 6 of our last 7, scoring 11 total runs in those games....
Ron Wolf loses his 6th game in a row...

We had 9 hits and made no errors
Dallas had 11 hits and made no errors

Ron Wolf (L 12-11) went 6+ innings, allowed 3 runs, 5 hits, 1 walk and struck out 2. At bat, he had a hit and scored a run.
RHP Curt Riley went 3 innings, allowed 1 run, 6 hits, 3 walks (1 INT) and struck out 3.

Henry Vega (W 6-4) went 6 innings, gave us 2 runs, 6 hits, 1 walk (INT) and struck out 3.
RHP Jose Uria (SV 29) pitched a scoreless 9th and gave us 1 hit.

C Dennis Webb had 3 hits with a double and both of our RBI.

For the Eagles, LF Steve DeMuro had 3 hits and a walk.

[Questdog]

Tuesday, August 28, Year I

Dallas Eagles (78-53 .595 in 1st place in the PCL East) at
Portland Beavers (77-54 .588 in 1st place in the PCL West)

DAL: Ralph Hoskins (25-R 5-15 5.88) Rookie vs. POR: Dave Cole (25-R 2-3 4.82) Rookie

We beat Hoskins, an amazingly inept pitcher to be in a Championship team's rotation, in Dallas, scoring 4 runs on 10 hits in 5.1 IP. Opponents are batting .316 against him with an .840 OPS.

Of course, Cole is not exactly the type of pitcher you'd expect to find in a Championship team's rotation either... He is 1-1 since being recalled from Vancouver (AAA) and both games were technically Quality Starts, but by the slimmest of margins. He beat Dallas in his first start back.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS)
DALLAS
1: 1B Tony Sierra (25-R .314-334-3-35-.801)
2: RF Chris Hagerty (24-L .284-334-4-39-.747) Rookie
3: 3B Qian Duan (29-R .260-384-15-58-.712)
4: LF Steve DeMuro (29-L .318-406-19-70-.961) All-Star MVP
5: CF Bob Holder (26-R .262-473-11-58-.739)
6: 2B Edwin Juan (24-R .260-354-5-44-.694) Rookie
7: SS Joe Aloe (27-L .200-230-4-29-.604) Rookie
8: C Dan Kaczmarek (28-R .297-384-13-74-.833) All-Star
9: P Ralph Hoskins (25-R .314-35-0-4-.656) Rookie Waiver claim from NY 7/2

How many times do you see the team leader in RBI batting 8th? Of course, we sent our team leader in RBI to the bench....

PORTLAND
1: RF Dale Ainsworth (26-L .301-481-7-49-.780)
2: 2B Gary Long (32-R .264-473-6-46-.677)
3: CF Perry Templet (23-L .302-454-6-53-.778) Rookie
4: 1B Randy James (32-R .263-399-13-59-.755)
5: LF Jeff Schottler (24-R .247-372-9-39-.699) Rookie
6: 3B Dave Lesley (26-R .254-307-3-34-.662)
7: C Dave Benya (26-S .175-80-0-2-.454)
8: SS Eddie Thomas (25-R .218-193-2-21-.564) Rookie
9: P Dave Cole (25-L .222-9-0-1-.444) Rookie

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: The Skydome
Weather: Roof Closed
Attendance: 17,899

Top of the First:
Tony Sierra flies out to shallow right. Chris Hagerty swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit to right. Qian Duan swings at a 3-2 pitch and doubles to center. Steve DeMuro triples to center... 2 to 0, Eagles. Bob Holder strikes out. Edwin Juan grounds out to short.

Bottom of the First:
Dale Ainsworth doubles to right! Gary Long lines out to center. Perry Templet grounds out to short. Randy James pops out to 2nd...

Top of the Third:
Tony Sierra, not noted as a slugger, leads off with his 4th home run of the season in 336 AB. 434 feet. 3 to 0, Eagles.

Bottom of the Fourth:
With 1 out, Randy James singles and Jeff Schottler gets hit by a pitch. Dave Lesley makes the 2nd out with a force at 2nd, 4-6. Dave Benya then doubles to right and both runners score! 3 to 2, Eagles. They walk Eddie Thomas intentionally to get to P Dave Cole, but I pull him down and send up PH Gordon Saunderson (26-L). We may not get many more opportunities to score... Saunderson grounds out to 3rd...

Bottom of the Fifth:
With 1 out, Gary Long doubles and with 2 outs, Randy James knocks him home to tie the game at 3!! James then steals only his 5th base of the season and Jeff Schottler singles him home! 4 to 3, Beavers!!

Top of the Seventh:
New Pitcher: Don Schmidt (26-R). Joe Aloe leads off with a triple to right center and scores on a fly ball by Dan Kaczmarek to tie the game at 4.

Bottom of the Seventh:
On the Hill: Steve Patterson (29-L), beginning his 2nd inning of work. Randy James strikes out, but Jeff Schottler doubles to center. Dave Lesley lines one to left that is almost caught, but drops for a hit and Schottler only makes it to 3rd. PH Jeff Austin grounds one to 2nd and they go for 2, but only get the force at 2nd, 4-6, and Schottler scores! 5 to 4, Beavers!

Top of the Eighth:
With 2 outs, Steve DeMuro, who we cannot get out, lines a hit to right. PH Jim Bakutis (26-S), the ex-Beaver, then doubles to center and DeMuro scores to tie the game at 5... PH Dick Gottesman (31-L) is walked intentionally to get to light hitting Joe Aloe, but he singles to left and the bases are loaded... Dan Kaczmarek flies out to left!

Bottom of the Eighth:
New Pitcher: Charlie Sedgwick (35-R). 3.08 ERA, but better looking numbers than than that. PH Howard McNeal (30-R) strikes out. Dale Ainsworth fouls out to the catcher... 2-2 pitch to Gary Long and he doubles to left center! They walk Perry Templet intentionally to get to cleanup hitter Randy James. He swings at the first pitch and hits a can of corn to center to end the inning....

Top of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Lou Hertzberg (29-L). With 1 out, Tony Sierra grounds one to the normally reliable Gary Long at 2nd, but he throws the ball away for a 2 base error, only his 6th of the season. PH Fran Haer (25-R) then lines a hit to right and runners are at the corners with 1 out. Qian Duan strikes out! That brings up Steve DeMuro, who is batting over 1.000, I think, against us... Actually only .467 with 3 HR in 30 AB.... 1.396 OPS.... He grounds out to 2nd!!!!

Bottom of the Ninth:
Jeff Schottler leads off and drives one to the wall in right, but it is caught. Dave Lesley draws a walk. C Phil Parker (27-S) grounds a 3-2 pitch to 2nd for an out, but Lesley moves into scoring position. SS Eddie Thomas is up. He cannot hit right-handers, but we cannot pinch hit for him because we would not be able to cover all the bases on defense in extras innings.... 2-2 pitch and he grounds it up the middle and past the diving shortstop for a hit! Lesley heads home and beats the throw and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Beavers!!!! That is the 3rd time Thomas has won a walk-off game for us!!! No one else has done it more than once!

Won - 6 to 5

We had 11 hits and made 2 errors
Dallas had 11 hits and made no errors

We are 13-9 when making 2 or more errors in a game.
The most errors we have made is 4 and we won that one.
In our previous 7 games, we had made 1 total error and had won 1 total game...

Dave Cole went 4 innings, allowed 3 runs, 5 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk and struck out 1.
RHP Antoine Redd went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit and struck out 2.
RHP Don Schmidt (BS 2) went 2 innings, allowed 2 runs, 4 hits, 1 walk (INT) and struck out 1. He does not seem all the way back from his injury, yet.
LHP Lou Hertzberg (W 5-4) went 1 scoreless inning, allowed 1 hit and struck out 2.

Ralph Hoskins went 5.1 innings, gave us 4 runs, 7 hits, 3 walks (1 INT), 2 HB and struck out 2.
RHP Charlie Sedgwick (L 4-2) went 1.2 innings, gave us 1 run, 2 hits, 2 walks (1 INT) and struck out 1.

RF Dale Ainsworth hit a double and drew a walk. 2B Gary Long hit 2 doubles and scored a run. 1B Randy James had 2 hits, stole a base, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. LF Jeff Schottler had 2 hits with a double, was hit by a pitch, scored a run and had an RBI. C Dave Benya hit a double, drew a walk and had 2 RBI. PH Jeff Austin had an RBI and stole a base. SS Eddie Thomas had 2 hits, was walked intentionally and had the game winning RBI.

For the Eagles, LF Steve DeMuro had 3 hits with a double and a triple, scored a run and had 2 RBI. SS Joe Aloe had 3 hits with a triple and scored a run.

[Questdog]

Wednesday, August 29, Year I

Dallas Eagles (78-54 .591 in 1st place in the PCL East) at
Portland Beavers (78-54 .591 in 1st place in the PCL West)

DAL: Brad Dombeck (32-R 10-10 3.46) vs. POR: Frank Martin (26-R 13-9 2.75) Rookie

The only time we faced Dombeck, he pitched a CG and beat us, giving us 3 runs off 8 hits and no walks and 7 strike outs.

Martin had a bad outing in that game Dombeck beat us. He is our only legitimate major league starting pitcher right now and we cannot afford for him to have bad outings.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS)
DALLAS
1: RF Chris Hagerty (24-L .284-338-4-39-.745) Rookie
2: 1B Fran Haer (25-R .282-234-2-24-.736) Trade from Cin 6/5
3: 3B Qian Duan (29-R .260-389-15-58-.711)
4: LF Steve DeMuro (29-L .321-411-19-72-.971) All-Star MVP 3 for 5 with a HR vs Martin
5: CF Bob Holder (26-R .261-475-11-58-.738)
6: 2B Edwin Juan (24-R .258-357-5-44-.689) Rookie
7: SS Joe Aloe (27-L .209-234-4-29-.627) Rookie
8: C Jim Hoover (24-R .197-76-0-9-.577) Rookie
9: P Brad Dombeck (32-R .111-45-0-4-.339) Waiver claim from Hou 7/1

PORTLAND
1: RF Dale Ainsworth (26-L .301-485-7-49-.781)
2: C Dennis Webb (25-L .258-252-0-16-.627)
3: CF Perry Templet (23-L .299-458-6-53-.773) Rookie
4: LF Jeff Schottler (24-R .250-376-9-40-.706) Rookie
5: 2B Gary Long (32-R .266-478-6-46-.683)
6: 3B Dave Lesley (26-R .255-310-3-34-.666)
7: SS Eddie Thomas (25-R .223-197-2-22-.575) Rookie
8: 1B Jeff Austin (29-R .229-455-11-59-.649) .162 BA in August
9: P Frank Martin (26-S .175-57-0-1-.400) Rookie

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: The Skydome
Weather: Roof Closed
Attendance: 17,374

Top of the First:
Chris Hagerty lines a hit to left. Fran Haer grounds a hit to left. Qian Duan swings at the first pitch and lines out to deep right and Hagerty tags up and moves to 3rd. Steve DeMuro triples to center... 2 to 0, Eagles. This guy needs to be walked every time up! Bob Holder flies out to right and DeMuro holds at 3rd. 2 outs. Edwin Juan grounds out to 3rd.

Bottom of the First:
Dale Ainsworth lines out to left. Dennis Webb lines a hit to right. Perry Templet flies out to right. Jeff Schottler swings at the first pitch and grounds out to short.

Top of the Third:
With 1 out, Qian Duan doubles to right center, but injures himself sliding into 2nd. Pinch-runner: Dick Gottesman (31-L). Steve DeMuro is not walked and lines a 3-2 pitch to right for a hit. Bob Holder grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4, and Gottesman scores. 3 to 0, Eagles.

The Eagles have 7 hits through 3 innings...

Top of the Fourth:
Backup up catcher Jim Hoover leads off with a double and gets bunted to 3rd by P Brad Dombeck and scores on a ground out by Chris Hagerty. 4 to 0, Eagles.

9 hits through 4, with 4 for extra bases....

Top of the Sixth:
Jim Hoover leads off with yet another hit, gets bunted to 2nd by P Brad Dombeck and scores on a hit by Chris Hagerty. 5 to 0, Eagles. That ends P Frank Martin's day.

Bottom of the Sixth:
With 2 outs, Jeff Schottler triples and scores when SS Joe Aloe boots Gary Long's ground ball. 5 to 1, Eagles.

Bottom of the Seventh:
With 1 out Jeff Austin walks on 4 pitches. PH Randy James (32-R) singles. Dale Ainsworth singles and Austin scores. 5 to 2, Eagles.

Top of the Eighth:
New Pitcher: Lonny Tomski (27-R). He strikes out the side 1-2-3! 7-8-9 hitters, but still...

Bottom of the Eighth:
With 1 out, Gary Long doubles and Dave Lesley follows with a home run to left! 5 to 4, Eagles.

Bottom of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Jose Uria (25-R), their closer. 3 saves and 2 losses to us, but Eddie Thomas is out of the game and cannot win this one for us... The top of our order is up. With 1 out, Dennis Webb lines a hit to left. Pinch-runner: Phil Parker (27-S). Perry Templet draws a 4 pitch walk! Jeff Schottler grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4, and Parker goes to 3rd. 2 outs. Full count to Gary Long and he tales ball 4 to load the bases up for Dave Lesley. 1-2 pitch on its way....Lesley swings and grounds one hard up the middle and by the second baseman for a hit! Parker scores and Schottler heads around 3rd and he scores, too!!! And THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Beavers!!!!

Back-to-back walk-off wins!!!

Won - 6 to 5

We scored in each of the last 4 innings.

We had 10 hits and made no errors
Dallas had 14 hits and made 3 errors

Frank Martin went 5.1 innings, allowed 5 runs, 12 hits, 1 walk and struck out 1.
RHP Barry Chapman went 1.2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit and struck out 2.
RHP Lonny Tomski pitched 1 perfect inning and struck out the side.
RHP Antoine Redd (W 5-4) pitched 1 scoreless inning, allowed 1 hit and struck out 1.

Brad Dombeck went 8 innings, gave us 4 runs (3 earned), 8 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks and struck out 2. He threw a WP. At bat, he drew a walk.
RHP Jose Uria (L 5-9 BS 5) got 2 outs, but gave us 2 runs, 2 hits and 2 walks.

RF Dale Ainsworth had 2 hits with a double and an RBI. C Dennis Webb had 2 hits. PR Phil Parker scored the tying run in the bottom of the 9th. LF Jeff Schottler hit a triple, drew a walk and scored 2 runs, including the game-winning one. 2B Gary Long hit a double, drew a walk and scored a run. 3B/SS Dave Lesley hat 2 hits with a home run and 4 RBI, including the game winner. He now has 4 home runs on the season. PH/2B Randy James had a hit.

For the Eagles, LF Steve DeMuro had 4 hits with a double and a triple and 2 RBI. He finishes the regular season at an even .500 against the Beavers. 18 for 36 with 2 doubles, 2 triples and 3 home runs. In 9 games, he scored 7 runs and had 12 RBI. OPS of 1.467!

The Eagles announced that Qian Duan has a bruised knee and should be able to play with it and will be fine ina a few days.

We are done with the Eagles until the Pacific Coast League Championship Series. We won the season series, 8 to 4!

[Questdog]

Friday, August 31, Year I

After a much needed day off yesterday, we are in Milwaukee to start a weeklong road trip with 3 games over the weekend against the Brewers. This series will finish up our tour of the PCL Eastern Division for this season. The Brewers just won 2 of 3 in Oakland. They swept us in a 2 game series in Portland last week. We are 4-5 against them on the season and lost 2 of 3 the last time we were in the Cream City, June 5-6, the only series we played in June that we did not win. They are 4th in scoring in the PCL with 4.3 runs per game (Portland is 10th with 3.8). They are 8th in fewest runs allowed with 4.3 (Portland is still #1 with 3.3). Their pitchers are 1 shy of leading the PCL in most HR allowed (118). We have allowed the 2nd fewest (85).

Portland Beavers (79-54 .594 in 1st place in the PCL West) at
Milwaukee Brewers (68-65 .511 10 GB in 4th place in the PCL East)

POR: Johnny Maskell (24-R 3-6 4.00) Rookie vs. MIL: Ray Bankston (30-L 13-6 3.32)

Bankston is their #1 starter. We are 0-2 against him, though we actually scored 4 runs each time. He is the first lefty we have faced in 3 weeks.

Maskell, like most of our starting pitchers, has not done well of late. He is 0-3 in his last 4 starts with a 5.09 ERA. There is no one left in Vancouver (AAA) to give a shot to that looks like they have any chance at all to do well in the Majors, so we are stuck with what we have for the duration. Terry Melton will hopefully return in a week or so and someone will be culled then.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS)
PORTLAND
1: RF Dale Ainsworth (26-L .302-490-7-50-.783)
2: SS Eddie Thomas (25-R .221-199-2-22-.570) Rookie
3: LF Howard McNeal (30-R .256-285-7-32-.712)
4: 3B Randy James (32-R .266-406-13-60-.756)
5: CF Jeff Schottler (24-R .250-380-9-40-.711) Rookie
6: 2B Dave Lesley (26-R .257-315-4-38-.677)
7: C Dave Benya (26-S 0.183-82-0-4-.487)
8: 1B Jeff Austin (29-R .229-458-11-59-.651)
9: P Johnny Maskell (24-R .154-26-0-3-.385) Rookie

MILWAUKEE
1: 3B Bill Valdez (29-R .246-496-6-44-.658)
2: LF Dave Mancini (26-L .266-354-9-40-.752) Rookie Trade from Pit 6/12
3: SS Jack Stull (30-R .321-392-16-64-.905)
4: RF Larry Reichler (23-L .264-386-20-63-.822) Rookie #20 prospect
5: 2B Tom Harriger (24-R .322-490-11-72-.862) All-Star
6: C Bob Coyne (36-L .284-377-13-51-.823) All-Star
7: CF Gene Belt (24-R .269-387-7-48-.714) Rookie
8: 1B Barry Anderson (26-L .255-325-0-20-.664)
9: P Ray Bankston (30-R .157-51-0-1-.346)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Milwaukee County Stadium
Weather: 66 F, Raining, with an 11 MPH wind blowing in from right.
Attendance: 23,578

Top of the First:
Dale Ainsworth lines out to 3rd. Eddie Thomas flares a hit to right and steals 2nd. Howard McNeal lines out to 2nd and they double Thomas off....

Bottom of the First:
Bill Valdez flies out to left. Dave Mancini grounds out to 2nd. Jack Stull flies out to right! 1-2-3!

Top of the Third:
With 1 out, Jeff Austin doubles to right and P Johnny Maskell knocks him home with a line drive hit to center! 1 to 0, Beavers! Dale Ainsworth follows with a hit to right, but Eddie Thomas and Howard McNeal both strike out.

Top of the Fourth:
Randy James leads off with a dying quail to center for a hit and Jeff Schottler moves him to 3rd with a line drive hit to right. Dave Lesley lines out to 3rd and Bill Valdez steps on the bag to double off James... Dave Benya ends the inning by grounding out to the pitcher.

Bottom of the Fourth:
I knew this was coming, but just did not know when... With 1 out, Larry Reichler homers to right to tie the game at 1 all.

Top of the Sixth:
Howard McNeal leads off with an infield hit and steals 2nd, but nothing comes of it.

Bottom of the Sixth:
With 1 out Jack Stull walks and steals 2nd. We walk Larry Reichler intentionally and that does not upset me too much. Stull tries to steal 3rd and C Dave Benya throws him out! Tom Harriger walks. Bob Coyne grounds one to short, but 1B Jeff Austin drops the throw for an error and the bases are loaded with 2 outs. Call to the Bullpen: Curt Riley (35-R). Gene Belt hits a fly ball to center that should have ended the inning, but Jeff Schottler drops the ball for his 1st error in center field all season and 2 runs cross the plate.... 3 to 1, Brewers. We walk Barry Anderson intentionally to get to P Ray Bankston, who already has a hit today. He strikes out. 2 errors!!!

Top of the Seventh:
Jeff Austin leads off with a home run to left! 3 to 2, Brewers. I think we might try him back in the lineup.

Top of the Eighth:
With 1 out, Randy James grounds a hit to left and Jeff Schottler grounds one to center, but Dave Lesley grounds into a 5-4-3 double play...

Top of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: George Thomas (33-L), their closer after being traded from Brooklyn on June 5th. He had a 2.16 ERA as a non-closer for Brooklyn, but has a 5.14 ERA since the trade with 14 saves and 8 losses. He has no saves or losses against us, but does have a win. PH Gary Long (32-R) gets us off to a good start by grounding out to the pitcher... Jeff Austin up next. He takes a 3-2 pitch for a walk. PH Joe Harrison (35-R) strikes out. 2 down. Dale Ainsworth flies out to right.

Lost - 3 to 2

We had 10 hits and made 2 errors
Milwaukee had 3 hits and made no errors.

10 to 3 in hits!!! We lose...
Of course, 8 walks and those 2 errors did not help...
Bankston becomes the first pitcher to garner 3 wins from us this season.

Johnny Maskell (L 3-7) went 5.2 innings, allowed 3 runs (1 earned), 1 home run, 5 walks (1 INT) and struck out 2. At bat, he had a hit and an RBI.
RHP Curt Riley faced 3 batters and got 1 out with a walk (INT) and a strikeout.
LHP Lou Hertzberg pitched 2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit, 2 walks and struck out 3.

Ray Bankston (W 14-6) went 8 innings, gave us 2 runs, 10 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks (1 INT) and struck out 3. At bat, he had a hit.
LHP George Thomas (SV 15) pitched a scoreless 9th, gave us 1 walk and struck out 1.

3B Randy James had 2 hits. CF Jeff Schottler had 2 hits and an intentional walk, but cost us 2 runs with an error. 1B Jeff Austin hit a double and a home run, his 12th of the season, drew a walk and scored 2 run, but also made an error that cost us a run.

[Questdog]

Monthly Awards for April, Year I

NL Player of the Month: Ken Greenhalgh, 2b, St. Louis .444/.519/.656 90 AB, 12 2b, 2 3b, 1 HR, 14 BB, 6 SO, 19 R, 17 RBI, 2 SB, 2 CS in 25 G
NL Pitcher of the Month: Mel Roman, lhp, Washington 5-0 1.62 ERA 6 GS, 39 IP, 29 H, 1 HR, 19 BB, 32 SO
NL Rookie of the Month: Ken Greenhalgh, 2b, St. Louis

PCL Player of the Month: Steve DeMuro, lf, Dallas .310/.459/.552 87 AB, 11 2b, 2, 3b, 2 HR, 24 BB, 10 SO, 24 R, 25 RBI, 5 SB, 4 CS in 25 G
PCL Pitcher of the Month: Dave Ibarra, rhp, Los Angeles 5-0 1.69 ERA 6 GS, 42.2 IP, 29 H, 0 HR, 10 BB, 22 SO
PCL Rookie of the Month: Perry Templet, cf, Portland .347/.390/.459 98 AB, 6 2b, 1 3b, 1 HR, 7 BB, 9 SO, 15 R, 7 RBI, 4 SB, 4 CS in 23 G (22 GS)

Monthly Awards for May
NL Player of the Month: Randy Bradley, 2b, Boston .389/.435/.761 113 AB, 8 2b, 2 3b, 10 HR, 10 BB, 17 SO, 28 R, 30 RBI, 2 SB, 4 CS in 26 G
NL Pitcher of the Month: Wally Wacker, rhp, Philadelphia 5-0 1.88 ERA 6 GS, 38.1 IP, 32 H, 2 HR, 19 BB, 43 SO
NL Rookie of the Month: Jonah Siverston, rf, Cleveland .440/.488/.600 75 AB, 6 2B, 2 HR, 8 BB, 8 SO, 6 R, 17 RBI in 26 G (17 GS)

PCL Player of the Month: Rick Ingledue, lf/rf, Minnesota .306/.390/.622 98 AB, 4 2b, 9 HR, 11 BB, 18 SO, 20 R, 25 RBI, 2 SB, 0 CS in 26 G
PCL Pitcher of the Month: Phil McDevitt, lhp, Milwaukee 3-1 1.80 ERA 7 SV 13 G, 15 IP, 11 H, 1 HR, 6 BB, 9 SO
PCL Rookie of the Month: Gene Belt, cf, Milwaukee .330/.355/.456 103 AB, 7 2b, 2 HR, 4 BB, 14 SO, 9 R, 16 RBI, 2 SB, 8 CS in 26 G (24 GS)

Monthly Awards for June
NL Player of the Month: Tim Vigen, 1b, St. Louis .284/.451/.529 102 AB, 3 2b, 2 3b, 6 HR, 30 BB, 11 SO, 25 R, 14 RBI, 7 SB, 4 CS in 28 G (Was lots better in May)
NL Pitcher of the Month: Kenny Reynolds, lhp, Philadelphia 5-1 0.96 ERA 6 SV 15 G, 18.2 IP, 9 H, 0 HR, 3 BB, 15 SO
NL Rookie of the Month: Tom Rosenthal, lf/cf, Pittsburgh .303/.371/.562 89 AB, 3 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 12 BB, 16 SO, 16 R, 25 RBI in 27 G (24 GS)

PCL Player of the Month: Mike Francoeur, cf, Minnesota .367/.410/.615 109 AB, 11 2b, 2 3B, 4 HR, 8 BB, 10 SO, 23 R, 14 RBI, 9 SB, 2 CS in 28 G (27 GS)
PCL Pitcher of the Month: Mike Nackley, lhp, San Diego 6-0 0.52 ERA 6 GS, 52 IP, 36 H, 1 HR, 11 BB, 49 SO (3 Shutouts, all in a row)
PCL Rookie of the Month: Randy Schmitt, cf, Kansas City .309/.350/.518 110 AB, 3 2b, 1 3B, 6 HR, 7 BB, 15 SO, 22 R, 17 RBI, 9 SB, 3 CS in 25 G

Monthly Awards for July
NL Player of the Month: Pedro Perez, lf, New York .333/.472/.654 81 AB, 6 2b, 1 3b, 6 HR, 22 BB, 4 SO, 22 R, 25 RBI, 3 SB, 1 CS in 25 G (highest paid player in MLB - $3.7 million)
NL Pitcher of the Month: Jack Senese, rhp, Philadelphia 4-0 1.65 ERA 6 GS, 43.2 IP, 36 H, 6 HR, 10 BB, 15 SO (Rookie)
NL Rookie of the Month: Joe Froelich, 2b, St. Louis .381/.475/.655 84 AB, 7 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 16 BB, 15 SO, 13 R, 16 RBI in 27 G

PCL Player of the Month: Rob Douma, 2B, Denver .375/.415/.760 96 AB, 3 2b, 2 3B, 10 HR, 8 BB, 12 SO, 20 R, 28 RBI, 10 SB, 1 CS in 23 G
PCL Pitcher of the Month: Steve Fialho, rhp, Houston 3-0 1.23 ERA 4 GS, 29.1 IP, 15 H, 1 HR, 5 BB, 25 SO
PCL Rookie of the Month: Bob Webster, 2b, Houston .364/.375/.597 77 AB, 3 2b, 3 3B, 3 HR, 2 BB, 11 SO, 10 R, 13 RBI, 2 SB, 1 CS in 21 G (19 GS)

Monthly Awards for August
NL Player of the Month: Joe Wilson, rf, Detroit .405/.500/.702 84 AB, 2 2b, 1 3b, 7 HR, 16 BB, 12 SO, 19 R, 16 RBI, 0 SB, 1 CS in 25 G (23 GS)
NL Pitcher of the Month: Tom Wagner, lhp, Chicago 6-1 2.42 ERA 7 GS, 48.1 IP, 52 H, 5 HR, 3 BB, 13 SO
NL Rookie of the Month: Joe Wilson, rf Detroit

PCL Player of the Month: Ivan Gallegas, 3B, Denver .347/.480/.714 98 AB, 11 2b, 2 3B, 7 HR, 24 BB, 10 SO, 23 R, 24 RBI, 3 SB, 1 CS in 30 G (28 GS)
PCL Pitcher of the Month: Bill Avallone, rhp, Dallas 5-1 1.64 ERA 6 GS, 49.1 IP, 40 H, 1 HR, 15 BB, 23 SO (Hit .438 for the month)
PCL Rookie of the Month: Gary Olson, 2b/1b, Minnesota .398/.414/.593 108 AB, 4 2b, 1 3B, 5 HR, 3 BB, 9 SO, 19 R, 11 RBI, 7 SB, 2 CS in 28 G (25 GS)

[Questdog]

Saturday, September 1, Year I

Dave Dafoe's crew signed a player in Japan: SP Shigeji Sakuragi (16-R). 81 MPH fastball. Nothing much to get excited about.

Portland Beavers (79-55 .590 in 1st place in the PCL West) at
Milwaukee Brewers (69-65 .515 10 GB in 4th place in the PCL East)

POR: Ron Wolf (27-R 12-11 3.36) vs. MIL: Bill Lathrop (26-L 4-1 3.04) Rookie

Lathrop's control is suspect (5.7 BB per 9 IP), but otherwise has been excellent. 1 HR in 47.1 IP. We have not faced him before. 3 weeks without a lefty and now we face two in a row.

Wolf is putting his 6 game losing streak on the line. He faced Milwaukee once during this streak and gave up 8 runs in 3.2 IP.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS)
PORTLAND
1: RF Dale Ainsworth (26-L .302-494-7-50-.782)
2: SS Eddie Thomas (25-R .222-203-2-22-.568) Rookie
3: LF Howard McNeal (30-R .256-289-7-32-.709)
4: 3B Randy James (32-R .268-410-13-60-.759)
5: CF Jeff Schottler (24-R .253-383-9-40-.718) Rookie
6: 2B Gary Long (32-R .265-483-6-46-.683)
7: 1B Jeff Austin (29-R .232-461-12-60-.665)
8: C Dave Benya (26-S 0.176-85-0-4-.471)
9: P Ron Wolf (27-R .140-57-0-1-.333)

MILWAUKEE
1: 3B Bill Valdez (29-R .244-500-6-44-.653)
2: LF Dave Mancini (26-L .263-358-9-40-.744) Rookie
3: SS Jack Stull (30-R .320-394-16-64-.903)
4: RF Larry Reichler (23-L .265-388-21-64-.834) Rookie
5: 2B Tom Harriger (24-R .321-492-11-72-.861) All-Star
6: C Bob Coyne (36-L .284-380-13-51-.823) All-Star
7: CF Gene Belt (24-R .265-391-7-48-.707) Rookie
8: 1B Rick Wagner (27-S .198-126-3-14-.598)
9: P Bill Lathrop (26-L .313-16-0-4-.665) Rookie

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Milwaukee County Stadium
Weather: 72 F, Clear Skies, with an 11 MPH wind blowing in from center.
Attendance: 23,843

Top of the First:
Dale Ainsworth whacks a 2-2 pitch over the head of the right fielder for a triple! Eddie Thomas takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Howard McNeal grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4, and Ainsworth scores. 1 to 0, Beavers! Bill Lathrop tries to pick McNeal off at 1st, but throws the ball away for an error. Randy James lines out to 3rd. 2 outs. Jeff Schottler grounds out to 3rd.

Bottom of the First:
Okay, here we go with Ron Wolf starring in the latest episode of "The Curse of the First Inning".... Bill Valdez flies out to center. Dave Mancini grounds out to the pitcher! Could it be?... no...Jack Stull walks. Larry Reichler grounds out to the pitcher!!!

Top of the Fourth:
Jeff Austin leads off with a line drive to left center for a hit and steals 2nd. He goes to 3rd on a ground out. With 2 outs, Dale Ainsworth walks and then Lathrop uncorks a wild pitch and Austin scores! 2 to 0, Beavers!

Top of the Fifth:
With 1 out, Randy James doubles and Jeff Schottler follows with a single. Schottler then steals 2nd, but Gary Long walks to load the bases up with 1 out. Jeff Austin swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit up the middle and James scores! 3 to 0, Beavers! Dave Benya lines a hit to left and Schottler scores! 4 to 0, Beavers! P Ron Wolf grounds out to the pitcher, but all they get is the force at home. 2 outs. Dale Ainsworth grounds out to 3rd.

Top of the Seventh:
On the Hill: Phil McDevitt (28-L), beginning his second inning of work. With 1 out, Gary Long, Jeff Austin and Dave Benya all single to load the bases up. But P Ron Wolf strikes out and Dale Ainsworth grounds out to short.

Bottom of the Eighth:
Dave Mancini leads off with a walk. With 1 out, Larry Reichler singles to right and Mancini goes to 3rd. Tom Harriger lines out to deep center and Mancini scores. 4 to 1, Beavers. Bob Coyne draws a walk. Call to the Bullpen: Barry Chapman (26-R). Gene Belt strikes out!!

Won - 4 to 1

Ron Wolf's 6 game losing streak is over!

We had 12 hits and made no errors
Milwaukee had 6 hits and made 2 errors

Ron Wolf (W 13-11) went 7.2 innings, allowed 1 run, 6 hits, 5 walks and struck out 1.
RHP Barry Chapman (SV 9) went 1.1 scoreless innings, allowed 1 walk and struck out 2.

Bill Lathrop (L 4-2) went 5 innings, gave us 4 runs, 8 hits, 4 walks and struck out 1.

RF Dale Ainsworth hit a triple, drew a walk and scored a run. 3B Randy James hit a double, drew a walk and scored a run. CF/LF Jeff Schottler had 2 hits, stole a base and scored a run. 1B Jeff Austin had 4 hits, stole a base, scored a run and had an RBI. Super! I figure with our lead in the division, we can afford to play him everyday in September. How he performs will determine whether we plan on him as our first baseman next year or try to trade him this winter. Of course, if he performs like he did in August, no one will be willing to take him from us. C Dave Benya had 3 hits and an RBI.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Questdog

Monday, August 20, Year I

Stump Seely (L 0-1) went 6.1 innings, gave us 5 runs (4 earned), 10 hits, 3 walks and struck out 3. He threw a WP.

I wonder where that nickname came from. Nasty encounter with a bear trap? My cousin Danny had one of those. Being an outdoorsman, and an exceptional crafter, he fashioned his prosthetic himself.

We just called him Peggy ever after.

Originally Posted by Questdog

Sunday, August 26, Year I

P Tim Carrol (26-R) was sent to Vancouver (AAA) and Lonny Tomski (27-R) was reluctantly recalled.

(lifts his Beavers hat in jubilation) I knew that Lonski kid would go places other than Canada!

Originally Posted by Questdog

Monday, August 27, Year I

Random Fact of Week: I ask you, does this Beaver team honestly look like a Championship team to you? It does not to me. Right now, we have 1 starting pitcher who is not chopped liver (Frank Martin). The other pitcher who has been decent for us at times this year and still has his arm attached to his body (Ron Wolf) has lost 5 starts in a row with a 5.79 ERA in those games. The offense, even though they have been relatively injury free, has been futile in the extreme with our best hitter from last season (Jeff Austin) losing 150 points off his OPS. In August, we have only 1 starter, ONE!!! with an OPS over .700 for the month: rookie CF Perry Templet. Even RF Dale Ainsworth, who has been our best player on offense so far this season is stinking it up in August with a .628 OPS. The Bullpen has been good most of the season, but that is the only area that we look like a quality team right now....

Don't you despair. Tommy Lonski will spin this team allllll the way…!

[Questdog]

Sunday, September 2, Year I

Portland Beavers (80-55 .593 in 1st place in the PCL West) at
Milwaukee Brewers (69-66 .511 11 GB in 4th place in the PCL East)

POR: Dave Cole (25-R 2-3 5.06) vs. MIL: Dan Morrell (30-R 12-11 3.83)

We have faced Morrell 3 times and he pitched 2 great games and one bad one. We are 1-2 against him. The last time we faced him, he held us to 1 run on 4 hits and 3 walks with 9 strikeouts in a CG.

Cole only went 4 innings last time out.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS)
PORTLAND
1: RF Dale Ainsworth (26-L .301-498-7-50-.785)
2: C Dennis Webb (25-L .261-257-0-16-.630)
3: CF Perry Templet (23-L .297-462-6-53-.767) Rookie
4: 3B Randy James (32-R .268-414-13-60-.760)
5: LF Jeff Schottler (24-R .255-388-9-40-.719) Rookie
6: 2B Gary Long (32-R .265-487-6-46-.683)
7: 1B Jeff Austin (29-R .238-466-12-61-.675)
8: SS Dave Lesley (26-R .254-319-4-38-.669)
9: P Dave Cole (25-L .222-9-0-1-.444) Rookie

MILWAUKEE
1: 3B Bill Valdez (29-R .242-505-6-44-.647)
2: LF Dave Mancini (26-L .265-362-9-40-.748) Rookie
3: SS Jack Stull (30-R .317-397-16-64-.898)
4: RF Larry Reichler (23-L .269-391-21-64-.838) Rookie
5: 2B Tom Harriger (24-R .321-495-11-73-.859) All-Star
6: C Bob Coyne (36-L .282-383-13-51-.818) All-Star
7: CF Gene Belt (24-R .266-395-7-48-.707) Rookie
8: 1B Barry Anderson (26-L .253-328-0-20-.660)
9: P Dan Morrell (30-R .086-70-0-3-.197)

Game Start: 1:05 PM
Ballpark: Milwaukee County Stadium
Weather: 74 F, Clear Skies, with a 13 MPH wind blowing out to left.
Attendance: 24,633

Top of the First:
Dale Ainsworth lines out to deep center. Dennis Webb strikes out. Perry Templet pops out to 1st.

Bottom of the First:
Full count to Bill Valdez and he flies out to deep left, just short of the warning track. That wind blowing out is going to bite Cole sooner or later... Dave Mancini grounds a hit to right and then steals 2nd. Jack Stull grounds a hit to center and Mancini heads home. The throw is not in time and Stull takes 2nd. 1 to 0, Brewers. Larry Reichler grounds out to 3rd on a 3-2 pitch. 2 down. Tom Harriger grounds a hit into center and Stull scores. 2 to 0, Brewers. Bob Coyne strikes out.

Top of the Third:
Dave Lesley leads off with a line drive to left for a hit and gets bunted to 2nd by P Dave Cole. He goes to 3rd on a ground out by Dale Ainsworth. Dennis Webb draws a 2 out walk and Perry Templet singles to right to score Lesley. 2 to 1, Brewers. Randy James strikes out for the second time in the game to end the inning.

Top of the Fourth:
With 1 out, Gary Long homers to left center to tie the game at 2 apiece! Jeff Austin follows with a single and then Dave Lesley doubles down the right field line. Austin goes for home and is safe and Lesley makes it to 3rd! 3 to 2, Beavers! P Dave Cole flies out to center and somehow Dave Lesley is doubled off base to end the inning...

Bottom of the Fourth:
Larry Reichler leads off with a deep drive to left that just carries the fence, thanks to that wind... 3 to 3. Tom Harriger follows with a double to center and we get the Bullpen throwing. Bob Coyne grounds a hit to right and Harriger scores. 4 to 3, Brewers. Gene Belt belts a home run to left center.... 6 to 3, Brewers. Call to the Bullpen: Don Schmidt (26-R). A chance for him to work some of the rust off from his injury. He gets 3 outs in a row.

Lost - 9 to 3

We had 12 hits and made no errors
Milwaukee had 17 hits and made no errors

We did set a new team record with our 5th straight game with double figures in hits.

Dave Cole (L 2-4) went 3+ innings, allowed 6 runs, 8 hits, 2 home runs, no walks and struck out 3.
RHP Don Schmidt went 2 perfect innings and struck out 1.
RHP Antoine Redd went 3 innings, allowed 3 runs, 9 hits, no walks and struck out 3. He has turned into a bum....

Dan Morrell (W 13-11) went 9 innings (CG), gave us 3 runs, 12 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk and struck out 7. 135 pitches.

CF Perry Templet had 2 hits and an RBI. 2B Gary Long had 2 hits with a double and his 7th home run. SS Dave Lesley had 3 hits with a double, scored a run and had an RBI.

For the Brewers, SS Jack Stull had 3 hits, scored a run and had 2 RBI. 2B Tom Harriger had 3 hits with a double, scored a run and had an RBI. C Bob Coyne had 3 hits with a double, scored 2 runs and had an RBI.

That completes our games with Milwaukee for this season. We lost the season series, 5-7.

We are also done with the East for this year and went 39-33 (.542). We lost the season series to Milwaukee and Houston and won against Dallas, Denver and Minnesota and split with Kansas City.

[Questdog]

Monday, September 3, Year I

Monday Morning Report
NL Player of the Week - Paul Bouvet, 2B, Philadelphia (25-R .323/.387/.463) Had 12 hits with 3 2B, 1 HR, 2 BB, 2 SO, 8 SB, 0 CS, 7 R and 5 RBI in 6 G (2nd PoW this year)
PCL Player of the Week - Steve DeMuro, LF, Dallas (29-L .325/.430/.556) Had 13 hits with 2 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 1 BB, 3 SO, 3 R and 9 RBI in 6 G

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

August 28 - Pete Gatton (26-R) of Cleveland pitched a 1 hit shutout at Washington. He walked 1 and struck out 3. The lone hit was a single that came with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th. It is his 2nd shutout of the season. He is now 14-4 with a 2.57 ERA. The Indians won, 7 to 0.
August 28 - Miguel Garza (27-R) of Detroit pitched a 3 hit shutout at home versus Boston. He walked 5 and struck out 3. It is his 4th shutout of the season. He is now 11-9 with a 4.38 ERA. The Tigers won, 8 to 0.
August 29 - 2B Paul Bouvet (25-R) of Philadelphia had 5 hits with a double and a home run, stole 3 bases, scored 4 runs and had 3 RBI at home versus St. Louis, but it was not enough as the Phillies lost, 13 to 9.
August 31 - Don Finley (26-R) of Kansas City pitched a 5 hit shutout at home versus San Francisco. He walked 2 and struck out 3. He is now 12-9 with a 3.73 ERA. The Royals won, 3 to 0.
August 31 - Ricky Davalos (25-R) of Brooklyn pitched a 2 hit shutout at home versus Detroit. He walked 3 and struck out 9. It is his 2nd shutout of the season. He is now 13-9 with a 2.62 ERA. The Dodgers won, 4 to 0.
September 1 - 3B Mike Fahy (30-L) of San Diego had 2 hits with a Grand Slam and 5 RBI at Minnesota. The Padres won, 14 to 2.

Random Fact of Week: Portland Beaver starting pitcher's ERA by Month: April - 3.45, May - 2.79, June - 2.86, July - 2.80, August/September - 4.27.... Terry Melton is tentatively scheduled to pitch this Friday. It will probably take him a few starts to get back in the groove (if he can, at all)....

[Westheim]

Tommy Lonski can totally win a game - you just have to give the little critter a second … eh, third… eh, eighth chance!

[Questdog]

Monday, September 3, Year I

Nothing but PCL Western Division foes from here on out. We are in sunny San Diego to play a short 2 game set. They won 2 of 3 in Minnesota over the weekend. We are 10-4 against them on the season and won 3 of 4 the last time we were in Jack Murphy Stadium, July 30-August 2. They are 11th in the PCL in scoring with 3.76 runs per game (Portland is #10 with 3.83). They are 3rd in HR (120), but 11th in BA (.236). The Padres are 3rd in fewest runs allowed with 3.68 (Portland is still #1 with 3.32). Our pitchers have walked the fewest batters (361) and given up the 2nd fewest HR (88); theirs have walked the 2nd fewest (396) and given up the 3rd fewest HR (89).

Portland Beavers (80-56 .588 in 1st place in the PCL West) at
San Diego Padres (67-69 .493 13 GB in 3rd place in the PCL West)

POR: Frank Martin (26-R 13-9 2.91) Rookie vs. SD: Mike Nackley (27-L 18-11 1.73)

Unbelievably, we are 2-1 against Nackley, the best pitcher in Baseball. His ERA is 2.63 against us and his 1 win was a 3 hit shutout, one of 8 he has tossed this season.

Martin, our best pitcher right now, was shelled in his last outing, giving up 5 runs and 12 hits in 5.1 IP. He is 2-0 with two 4 hit shutouts against the Padres this year, but those were both in Portland.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS)
PORTLAND
1: RF Dale Ainsworth (26-L .300-503-7-50-.781)
2: SS Eddie Thomas (25-R .217-207-2-22-.561) Rookie
3: LF Howard McNeal (30-R .252-294-7-33-.698)
4: 3B Randy James (32-R .268-418-13-60-.758)
5: CF Jeff Schottler (24-R .255-392-9-40-.716) Rookie
6: 2B Gary Long (32-R .269-491-7-47-.698)
7: 1B Jeff Austin (29-R .238-470-12-61-.673)
8: C Dave Benya (26-S .200-90-0-5-.509)
9: P Frank Martin (26-S .169-59-0-1-.387) Rookie

SAN DIEGO
1: CF Hal Baumgardner (26-R .235-417-6-29-.697)
2: LF Ernesto Najarro (22-L .283-336-7-27-.763) Rookie
3: 2B Roger Rojas (24-R .252-405-13-53-.729)
4: 3B Mike Fahy (30-L .283-484-12-66-.778) All-Star
5: 1B Ernie McGuire (34-R .245-192-3-20-.657)
6: RF Mark Saylor (24-S .182-170-5-17-.588) Rookie Trade from Hou 6/9
7: SS Rance Haynes (34-R .231-407-13-46-.656)
8: C Terry Bell (26-R .197-61-1-6-.565) Rookie
9: P Mike Nackley (27-L .083-72-0-1-.207) All-Star

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Jack Murphy Stadium
Weather: 83 F, Clear Skies, with a 6 MPH wind blowing out to right.
Attendance: 22,909

Top of the First:
Dale Ainsworth grounds out to 1st, unassisted. Eddie Thomas lines a hit to right! No no-no! Howard McNeal grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4. Randy James grounds out to 2nd.

Bottom of the First:
Hal Baumgardner strikes out! Ernesto Najarro grounds out to 2nd. Roger Rojas flares a hit to right and then steals 2nd. Mike Fahy lines a home run to right center... 2 to 0, Padres... No 4 hit shutout today.... Ernie McGuire strikes out.

Top of the Third:
Dave Benya walks and gets bunted to 2nd by P Frank Martin. He then gets caught stealing 3rd, just before Dale Ainsworth triples to left center... Eddie Thomas grounds out to 3rd on a 3-2 pitch to end the inning.

Top of the Fourth:
Howard McNeal leads off with a 4 pitch walk, goes to 2nd on a ground out by Randy James, steals 3rd and scores on a 2-out wild pitch! 2 to 1, Padres. No shutout today!

Top of the Seventh:
Gary Long leads off with a double to left. Jeff Austin lines a hit to right, but Long stops at 3rd. PH Glenn Pearce (39-R) is sent in to hit for C Dave Benya. Austin steals 2nd. Pearce ground a hit up the middle and Long scores! 2 to 2!! Austin stops at 3rd for some reason or other... PH Dave Lesley (26-R) flies out to center and Austin scores! 3 to 2, Beavers!

Top of the Eighth:
With 1 out, Randy James knocks one to right center that hits the very top of the fence, missing a home run by an inch or two at most. As it is, he ends up with a triple! They walk Jeff Schottler intentionally to get to Gary Long. Schottler strikes out a lot, so I would have been inclined to pitch to him with the fella that leads the Majors in K's. Long is excellent at making contact, but does ground into a lot of double plays. Long hits a high fly ball to deep left and it carries the fence for a 3 run home run!!!! 6 to 2, Beavers!!!! Nackley hits the showers.

Bottom of the Eighth:
On the Hill: Barry Chapman (26-R). I hoped it would be all smooth sailing now, but Chapman decided otherwise.... Rance Haynes leads off with a drive to right center that Dale Ainsworth just barely runs down for the 1st out. Terry Bell walks on 4 pitches and we get the Bullpen warming up. Then, I think we are out of the inning when PH Pedro de Jesus (25-L) grounds one right to 2B Gary Long for a tailor made double play, but Long makes a bad throw to 2nd for an error. Hal Baumgardner takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with 1 out. Call to the Bullpen: Lou Hertzberg (29-L). Dennis Webb comes in to catch in a double switch. Ernesto Najarro strikes out! 2 down! Roger Rojas doubles to center and 2 runs score and the tying run is in scoring position. 6 to 4, Beavers. PH Butch Nelson (25-R) grounds out to short!

Bottom of the Ninth:
With 1 out, Mark Saylor draws a walk. With 2 outs, PH Lee Dukes (33-R), batting .190, but with 12 HR is sent up to hit. He grounds a hit into left... They have 3 pretty big left-handed bats left on their bench, so we stick with Hertzberg... 3B Manny Rivera (28-R), batting .158 with no HR in 38 AB is up. He grounds out to 3rd and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Beavers!!!

Won - 6 to 4.

3-1 against the best pitcher in Baseball!
Nackley is the first starting pitcher to get 3 losses from us!

We had 9 hits and made 1 error
San Diego had 6 hits and made 1 error

Frank Martin (W 14-9) went 6 innings, allowed 2 runs, 4 hits, 1 home run, no walks (!!) and struck out 5. 1st start of the year that we did not walk anyone, except for a game where he had to leave with an injury after 2 innings. He walked 7 in his 1st win of the year.
RHP Barry Chapman (H 4) went 1.1 innings, allowed 2 unearned run, but no hits. He walked 2.
LHP Lou Hertzberg (SV 8) went 1.2 scoreless innings, allowed 2 hits, 1 walk and struck out 1.

Mike Nackley (L 18-12) went 7.1 innings, gave us 6 runs, 7 hits, 1 home run, 4 walks (1 INT) and struck out 6. He threw a WP.

RF Dale Ainsworth hit a triple. PH Perry Templet had a hit. 3B Randy James hit a triple and scored a run. 2B Gary Long hit a double and his 8th home run, scored 2 runs and had 3 RBI. It is the 2nd game in a row that he has homered. PH Glenn Pearce had a hit and an RBI. C Dennis Webb had a hit in his only AB.

[Questdog]

Tuesday, September 4, Year I

Portland Beavers (81-56 .591 in 1st place in the PCL West) at
San Diego Padres (67-70 .489 14 GB in 3rd place in the PCL West)

POR: Lonny Tomski (27-R 0-2 4.67) Rookie vs. SD: Danny Trevino (30-R 3-7 4.41) Rookie

We beat Trevino the only time we faced him, but only scored 2 runs in 8 IP off 5 hits and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts. That was one of the games Frank Martin pitched a 4 hit shutout.

Tomski will be making his 8th Major League start and is still looking for his first win. The last time he pitched was in relief and he struck out the side in order in an inning of work. He has allowed 7 HR in 34.2 IP.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS)
PORTLAND
1: RF Dale Ainsworth (26-L .299-508-7-50-.781)
2: C Dennis Webb (25-L .260-262-0-16-.628)
3: CF Perry Templet (23-L .299-468-6-54-.770) Rookie
4: 3B Randy James (32-R .267-423-13-60-.758)
5: LF Howard McNeal (30-R .249-297-7-33-.693)
6: 2B Gary Long (32-R .271-495-8-50-.708)
7: 1B Jeff Austin (29-R .238-474-12-61-.672)
8: SS Eddie Thomas (25-R .218-211-2-22-.563) Rookie
9: P Lonny Tomski (27-R .333-9-0-0-.844) Rookie

SAN DIEGO
1: CF Hal Baumgardner (26-R .236-420-6-29-.698)
2: RF Ernesto Najarro (22-L .279-340-7-27-.755) Rookie
3: 2B Roger Rojas (24-R .254-409-13-55-.733)
4: LF David Shropshire (30-L .257-401-18-52-.804)
5: 1B Otis Smith (33-L .214-294-10-32-.656)
6: 3B Mike Fahy (30-L .283-487-13-68-.784) All-Star
7: C Lee Dukes (33-R .192-385-12-40-.586)
8: SS Rance Haynes (34-R .231-411-13-46-.655)
9: P Danny Trevino (30-R .050-20-0-1-.098) Rookie

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Jack Murphy Stadium
Weather: 86 F, Clear Skies, with a 6 MPH wind blowing out to center.
Attendance: 19,818

Top of the First:
Dale Ainsworth grounds out to short. Dennis Webb swings at the first pitch and lines out to center. Perry Templet walks on 4 pitches. Full count to Randy James and he takes a mighty cut at the payoff pitch and walks back to the dugout to exchange his bat for his glove...

Bottom of the First:
With 6 players in the Padre lineup who have reached double figures in home runs, do you think Lonny Tomski has a chance at escaping this day unscathed? I do not... Hal Baumgardner grounds a 3-2 pitch into left for a hit. He lights out for 2nd, but finds the ball waiting there for him! Ernesto Najarro flies out gently to center. Roger Rojas, the first of the six with double digit dinger totals, lines one off the yellow line on the center field wall for a double. David Shropshire flies out to shallow left!

Top of the Fourth:
Dennis Webb leads off with a walk. Perry Templet swings at a 3-0 pitch and pops one to shallow left, but they play, "I got it, you take it" and the ball drops safely to the grass for a hit, the first of the game for the Beavers. With 1 out, Howard McNeal lines a sharp hit to left to load the bases up. Gary Long flies out to right and Webb holds at 3rd. 2 outs. Jeff Austin takes ball 1, ball 2, ball 3 and ball 4 in succession and forces in a run! 1 to 0, Beavers! Eddie Thomas takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 and another run is pushed across! 2 to 0, Beavers! P Lonny Tomski is sent up to hit with instructions to not swing at anything until he has 2 strikes on him. He takes the first pitch for strike one, but swings at the next one and misses for strike 2. Doh.... He then takes ball 1. He swings at the 1-2 pitch and grounds a hit through the left side! 2 runs scores! 4 to 0, Beavers! Dale Ainsworth works the count full and then draws another walk to load the bases back up. Dennis Webb, who started this all with a lead off walk, is back up. He swings a the first pitch (No!) and grounds one up the middle for a hit (Yes!) and a run scores! 5 to 0, Beavers and Trevino is yanked. New Pitcher: Vinny Marquez (35-R), who has very good control. Perry Templet flies out to center to end the inning. Will 5 runs be enough for Lonny Tomski to get his first win?

Top of the Fifth:
Randy James leads off with a hit. With 1 out, Gary Long singles. Jeff Austin draws a walk from a full count to load the bases up. Eddie Thomas grounds into a force at 2nd, 3-6, and James scores. 6 to 0, Beavers! 2 outs. P Lonny Tomski then swings at another 1-2 pitch and grounds a hit to right, scoring Long! RF Ernesto Najarro muffs the scoop for an error and the runners move up to 2nd and 3rd. 7 to 0, Beavers! Dale Ainsworth beats out an infield hit and Thomas scores! 8 to 0, Beavers! Dennis Webb flies out to right to end the inning. Will 8 runs be enough for Lonny?

Top of the Sixth:
We add another run with a 1 out single by Randy James, a double by Howard McNeal and a ground out by Gary Long. 9 to 0, Beavers. Are 9 runs enough, Mr. Tomski?

"Yes, sir. That is plenty, thanks."

Won - 9 to 2

We had 12 hits and made 1 error
San Diego had 7 hits and made no errors

If you had "Zero HR" in the Lonny Tomski pool, you are the winner!
But I do not think anyone picked that choice....

Lonny Tomski (W 1-2) went 7.2 innings, allowed 2 run, 7 hits, 3 walks and struck out 2. At bat, he had 2 hits and 3 RBI.
RHP Don Schmidt went 1.1 perfect innings with 1 strike out.

Danny Trevino (L 3-8) went 3.2 innings, gave us 5 runs, 4 hits, 5 walks and struck out 2.

CF Perry Templet had 2 hits and a walk and scored a run. 3B Randy James had 3 hits and scored 2 runs. LF Howard McNeal had 2 hits with a double and scored a run. 1B Jeff Austin did not have a hit, but walked 3 times, scored a run and had an RBI. SS Eddie Thomas did not have a hit and only walked once, but scored twice and had 2 RBI.

[Questdog]

Wednesday, September 5, Year I

We are in San Francisco to finish the penultimate road trip of the season with 2 games in Candlestick Park. The Seals just split a pair here with Seattle. We are 7-7 against them on the season and won 3 of 4 the last time we were here by outscoring them 11 to 4 in the series. Yes, that was in those fondly remembered days of our youth in June. The Seals are 7th in scoring in the PCL with 4.04 runs per game (Portland is 10th with 3.88). They are 1st in walks (523), but last in SB (65). They are 6th in fewest runs allowed with 4.00 per game (Portland is still #1 with 3.32). They are last in CG (8) and 2nd to last in Bullpen ERA (3.63), not a swell combination.

Portland Beavers (82-56 .594 in 1st place in the PCL West) at
San Francisco Seals (70-68 .507 12 GB in 2nd place in the PCL West)

POR: Johnny Maskell (24-R 3-7 3.84) Rookie vs. SF: Brett Davidson (31-L 9-13 3.57)

We are 3-0 against Davidson, though he only has taken the loss once. He pitched 1 really good game and 2 not so good ones.

Maskell is 0-4 in his last 5 starts with a 4.40 ERA.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS)
PORTLAND
1: LF Howard McNeal (30-R .252-301-7-33-.700)
2: SS Eddie Thomas (25-R .214-215-2-24-.556) Rookie
3: RF Jeff Schottler (24-R .253-396-9-40-.711) Rookie
4: 3B Randy James (32-R .271-428-13-60-.763)
5: 2B Gary Long (32-R .270-500-8-51-.705)
6: 1B Jeff Austin (29-R .237-476-12-62-.673)
7: CF Perry Templet (23-L .301-472-6-54-.773) Rookie 3 for 32 (.094) vs LHP
8: C Dave Benya (26-S .198-91-0-5-.511)
9: P Johnny Maskell (24-R .179-28-0-4-.429) Rookie

SAN FRANCISCO
1: CF Billy Anson (28-L .239-155-3-17-.630) Rookie
2: RF Gary Halbert (28-R .258-493-20-73-.803)
3: 3B Chris Greenwald (28-S .260-550-19-72-.718)
4: 1B Marcos Barron (32-R .225-417-8-28-.614) 2 for 3 with a HR vs Maskell
5: LF Ron Chestnut (31-L .254-503-14-57-.769)
6: 2B Clint Graham (29-R .277-415-8-42-.780)
7: C Chip Carpenter (29-R .224-384-12-46-.679)
8: SS Javy Vasquez (21-R .211-247-2-23-.626) Rookie #3 prospect
9: P Brett Davidson (31-L .115-61-0-3-.230) Waiver claim from Hou 7/1

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Candlestick Park
Weather: 79 F, Clear Skies, with a 10 MPH wind blowing out to center.
Attendance: 27,891

Top of the First:
Howard McNeal leads off with a double to left! Eddie Thomas grounds a hit to right! McNeal stops at 3rd. Jeff Schottler flares a hit to right and McNeal scores and Thomas beats the throw to 3rd! 1 to 0, Beavers! Schottler steals 2nd. Randy James doubles to left center and 2 runs score! 3 to 0, Beavers! Gary Long finally makes the first out by hitting a fly ball to left. Jeff Austin flies out to deep center and James tags up and moves to 3rd. Perry Templet flies out to left.

Bottom of the First:
Billy Anson swings at the first pitch and lines a hit to left center. SS Eddie Thomas makes a great stop on a ground ball by Gary Halbert and we get a force out at 2nd, 6-4. Chris Greenwald swings at the first pitch and flies out to short right. Marcos Barron draws a walk. Ron Chestnut lines a hard hit to left and Halbert scores. 3 to 1, Beavers. Clint Graham swings at the first pitch and launches one to deep center, but Perry Templet makes the catch at the wall!

Top of the Third:
Jeff Schottler leads off with an infield hit and then Randy James homers to left, just inside the foul pole and just over the fence! 5 to 1, Beavers!

Top of the Fifth:
On the Hill: Ed Collins (28-R), beginning his 2nd inning of work in his season debut. Randy James leads off with a walk and with 2 outs, Perry Templet homers to left center! 7 to 1, Beavers! Offense!

Bottom of the Fifth:
Chip Carpenter leads off with a single and with 1 out, p Ed Collins doubles to score him. 7 to 2, Beavers. Billy Anson then lines out to center and Perry Templet doubles Collins off base!

Bottom of the Sixth:
Gary Halbert leads off with a double and Chris Greenwald follows with a home run to right center. 7 to 4, Beavers. With 2 outs, Clint Graham and Chip Carpenter hit back-to-back doubles to scored another run. 7 to 5, Beavers. Time for Johnny Maskell to have a seat... New Pitcher: Curt Riley (35-R). His first pitch is through the wickets of C Dave Benya for a passed ball... Javy Vasquez then flies out!

Bottom of the Seventh:
PH Dave DiMeglio leads off with a home run to right. 7 to 6, Beavers. They get a pair of singles, but we stick with Riley and he gets out of the inning with no more damage.

Bottom of the Eighth:
New Pitcher: Don Schmidt (26--R). If he is fully back from his injury, there will be no more shenanigans... If... With 2 outs, he walks Javy Vasquez. PH Mike King (31-L) is sent up to hit for the pitcher. He has been used exclusively as a pinch-hitter this season without a single inning played in the field. He is an immobile outfielder by trade, but he can hit: 19 for 58 (.328) with 4 HR. Full count and Vasquez is on the move with the pitch and King doubles to the wall in center and Vasquez scores to tie the game at 7.... If.... Billy Anson grounds out to short to end the inning.

Top of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Jesse Adcock (28-L), their closer. Leads the league in SV despite a 4.41 ERA. 3 saves and 2 losses against us, his old team. With 2 outs, Randy James singles to right, but Gary Long flies out to center.

Bottom of the Ninth:
2-3-4 hitters up for them... They hit a couple of hard ones, but go down 1-2-3!

Extras!

Top of the Tenth:
With 1 out, Perry Templet, 3 for 34 against lefties, singles up the middle! PH Dave Lesley (26-R) works the count full and draws a walk! PH Joe Harrison (35-R), the $1.7 million Gatorade Guard, strikes out... 2 down. Howard McNeal strikes out...

Bottom of the Tenth:
New Pitcher: Barry Chapman (26-R), our last fresh arm in the Pen. Dennis Webb is in to catch. OF Gordon Saunderson (26-L) is all we have left on the bench. The Seals have 2 players on the bench, but no fresh arms in the Bullpen. With 1 out, Clint Graham singles, but with 2 outs, Webb throws him out when he tries to steal!

Top of the Eleventh:
Eddie Thomas leads off with a hit! He lights out for 2nd on an 0-2 pitch to Jeff Schottler, who swings and strikes out, but Thomas is safe at 2nd! But Randy James and Gary Long both ground out...

Bottom of the Eleventh:
Down they go, 1-2-3!

Top of the Twelfth:
Jesse Adcock is starting his 4th inning of work. He has thrown 50 pitches. We go down 1-2-3 with 2 K's....

Bottom of the Twelfth:
With 1 out, 3B Leon Vosters grounds a hit to right, but Marcos Barron and Ron Chestnut both strikeout!

Top of the Thirteenth:
63 pitches for Adcock. I let P Barry Chapman bat, as Gordon Saunderson cannot hit lefties anyway. Eddie Thomas gets a 2 out hit, but that is all.

Bottom of the Thirteenth:
46 pitches now for Chapman, who is starting his 5th inning of work. He walks lead off hitter Clint Graham, who goes to 2nd on a ground out, but the next 2 strike out, including PH John Ross (35-R).

Top of the Fourteenth:
New Pitcher: Buddy Werner (35-L), pitching for the 3rd day in a row. 30+ pitches in each of the previous two outings. 2.54 ERA. Randy James leads off by poking a hit into left center. Gary Long grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6. With 2 outs, Perry Templet draws a walk. Dennis Webb, who cannot hit lefties is up. He strikes out looking.

Bottom of the Fourteenth:
New Pitcher: Lou Hertzberg (29-L). 26 pitches 2 days go, so he should not bee too gassed. Leon Vosters gets a hit with 2 outs, but that is all.

Top of the Fifteenth:
P Lou Hertzberg leads off with a hit to left center! Howard McNeal bunts him to 2nd. With 2 outs, they walk Jeff Schottler to get to Randy James, which seems a bit odd... James lifts one to deep left and my heart rate jumps up, but it is caught just short of the warning track.

Bottom of the Fifteenth:
With 1 out, Clint Graham walks, but the next two make outs!

Top of the Sixteenth:
19 innings is our longest game of the year so far and we lost that one... With 2 outs, Perry Templet doubles to center and P Buddy Werner is hurt. New Pitcher: Gus Hanauer (28-R). He is pitching in his 4th game in 5 days. Dennis Webb grounds out to 3rd.

Bottom of the Sixteenth:
If we can just get through this inning, surely we will score in the next one... P Gus Hanauer leads off and grounds a hit into center. Hertzberg is due to lead off the next inning. I can Pinch hit for him then with Gordon Saunderson. If I pull him now, I will not be able to pinch hit, because we will be out of pitchers. With 2 outs, Leon Vosters singles to right and Hanauer goes to 3rd. Marcos Barron up. Full count....he swings and lines one to deep left into the corner, but Howard McNeal runs it down!!!

Top of the Seventeenth:
PH Gordon Saunderson, who I risked life and limb to allow to hit, grounds out to 1st... And we go down in order....

Bottom of the Seventeenth:
New Pitcher: Antoine Redd (31-R). A fresh Antoine Redd has not been very good lately; I think a tired one is about to make this the final inning.... Ron Chestnut leads off with a line drive to right center for a hit. There is no one else, except tired starting pitchers... Clint Graham flies out to deep right, but Chip Carpenter grounds a hit to left. Javy Vasquez grounds one up the middle, but SS Eddie Thomas snags it, steps on the bad at 2nd and fires to 1st for a double play!!! Great play!!!

Top of the Eighteenth:
We go down 1-2-3 again to an exhausted pitcher.... Gus Hanauer came into the game already gassed, but has retired all 7 batters he has faced...

Bottom of the Eighteenth:
P Gus Hanauer flies out and SS Eddie Thomas makes another great play to get Billy Anson out, but Gary Halbert misses ending the game immediately by a foot when he doubles off the right field wall. Leon Vosters, who is 3 for 4 since entering the game is up. He grounds out to 1st, 3-1!!

Top of the Nineteenth:
We have tied our longest game of the year. Jeff Austin leads off with a home run to right! 8 to 7, Beavers. We need more though, I think... Perry Templet pokes a hit to right. Dennis Webb bunts him to 2nd. Stupidest move ever....because the P Antoine Redd is the next batter and we have no pinch-hitter left. I could use Lonny Tomski, maybe, because he is 5 for 13 (.385), but who wold pitch? Redd lines a hit to center and Templet scores! 9 to 7, Beavers! That bunt was brilliant!! Howard McNeal singles. Eddie Thomas flies out. Jeff Schottler singles to load the bases up with 2 outs. Full count to Randy James and he swings and dinks a hit to center and 2 runs score! 11 to 7, Beavers! Gary Long grounds out to 3rd to end the inning.

Bottom of the Nineteenth:
Let's hope a 4 run lead is enough... Marco Barron leads off with the 48th hit of this game. Ron Chestnut strikes out! Clint Graham, takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Chip Carpenter pokes a hit to left and the bases are loaded and the tying run is at the plate... Full count to Javy Vasquez and he takes ball 4 to force in a run. 11 to 8, Beavers. That brings the winning run to the plate. PH Fred Steede (33-L), the final player on their bench. 6 for 15 (.400) on the season, but at least he has not hit a home run. He grounds a hit to right and a run is in and the winning run is at 1st base. 11 to 9, Beavers. Still only 1 out... Billy Anson grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4, and another run is in. 11 to 10, Beavers. The tying run is 90 feet away, but there are 2 outs. Gary Halbert drives one into left center, but Perry Templet runs it down and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Beavers!!!

Won - 11 to 10 in 19 innings

50 hits in the game!
6 hours and 22 minutes to complete.
What are we going to do for a Bullpen tomorrow?

We had 27 hits and made no errors
San Francisco had 23 hits and made no errors

Johnny Maskell went 5.2 innings, allowed 5 runs, 8 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk and struck out 1. At bat, he was 2 for 2.
RHP Curt Riley (H 1) went 1.1 innings, allowed 1 run, 3 hits and 1 home run.
RHP Don Schmidt (BS 3) went 2 innings, allowed 1 run, 1 hit and 1 walk.
RHP Barry Chapman went 4 scoreless innings, allowed 2 hits, 1 walk and struck out 6.
LHP Lou Hertzberg went 3 scoreless innings, allowed 3 hits, 1 walk and struck out 3. At bat, he had a hit.
RHP Antoine Redd (W 6-4) went 3 innings, allowed 3 runs, 6 hits, 2 walks and struck out 1. At bat, he had a hit, scored a run and had an RBI.

Brett Davidson went 3.1 innings, gave us 5 runs, 10 hits, 1 home run, no walks and struck out 1.
RHP Gus Hanauer (L 3-2) went 3.1 gutsy innings, gave us 4 runs, 6 hits and 1 home run. Both of his losses are to us.

The starting players all had 9 or 10 trips to the plate.
LF Howard McNeal had 3 hits with a double and scored 2 runs. SS Eddie Thomas had 4 hits, stole a base and scored a run. RF Jeff Schottler had 3 hits with an intentional walk, stole a base, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. 3B Randy James had 5 hits with a double and his 14th home run of the season, drew a walk, scored 2 runs and had 6 RBI. 1B Jeff Austin had 2 hits with his 13th home run. CF Perry Templet had 4 hits with a double and his 7th home run, drew a walk, scored 2 runs and had 2 RBI.

For the Seals, RF Gary Halbert had 3 hits with 2 doubles and scored 2 runs. 3B Leon Vosters had 3 hits in 5 AB. C Chip Carpenter had 4 hits with a double, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. PH Dave DiMeglio hit his 2nd home run of the season.

[Questdog]

Thursday, September 6, Year I

We sent P Dave Cole (25-R) to Vancouver (AAA) last night and sent for RP Humberto Montoya (28-R). I wanted to send for Brian Hagans (25-R), who had pitched decently for us earlier this season, but he was not rested. Montoya was the best rested reliever I could call up. After this game, Montoya will be sent back down, so we can activate P Terry Melton (26-R) form the Disabled List. Hopefully, we do not use Montoya today, because 1) that would mean we did not get a CG Shutout and 2) I am out of room on my roster card with the stats on it.... I would have to get bigger cards printed and Christy, my PA, says if I make her go to that printing shop again, she will quit. She says it smells very bad and the men ogle her there. I think smelling good is over-rated and I think wherever Christy goes, the men ogle her there. I am ogling her right now...better stop...

Portland Beavers (83-56 .597 in 1st place in the PCL West) at
San Francisco Seals (70-69 .504 13 GB in 2nd place in the PCL West)

POR: Ron Wolf (27-R 13-11 3.27) vs. SF: A.J. Yates (26-R 6-5 4.44) Rookie

Wolf ended his 6 game losing streak last time out with a very good outing. He did not allow a run in the 1st inning! Still, it was not a 1-2-3 one, though.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS)
PORTLAND
1: RF Dale Ainsworth (26-L .298-513-7-51-.779)
2: C Dennis Webb (25-L .257-269-0-17-.622)
3: CF Perry Templet (23-L .304-480-7-56-.787) Rookie
4: 3B Randy James (32-R .277-437-14-66-.780)
5: LF Jeff Schottler (24-R .254-405-9-41-.712) Rookie
6: 2B Gary Long (32-R .267-510-8-51-.695)
7: 1B Jeff Austin (29-R .237-485-13-63-.675)
8: SS Eddie Thomas (25-R .222-225-2-24-.566) Rookie
9: P Ron Wolf (27-R .131-61-0-1-.311)

SAN FRANCISCO
1: CF Billy Anson (28-L .230-165-3-18-.605) Rookie
2: RF Gary Halbert (28-R .258-503-20-73-.803)
3: 3B Chris Greenwald (28-S .260-554-20-74-.721)
4: LF Ron Chestnut (31-L .254-512-14-58-.763)
5: 2B Clint Graham (29-R .278-421-8-42-.784)
6: SS Javy Vasquez (22-R .205-254-2-24-.615) Rookie Today is his Birthday
7: 1B Leon Vosters (33-R .330-97-5-17-.945)
8: C John Ross (35-R .243-103-1-13-.651)
9: P A.J. Yates (26-R .167-42-0-3-.377) Rookie

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Candlestick Park
Weather: 79 F, Clear Skies, with an 11 MPH wind blowing right to left.
Attendance: 25,285

Top of the First:
Dale Ainsworth lines a 3-2 pitch to left for a hit. Dennis Webb lines out to right. Ainsworth steals 2nd. Perry Templet lines a hit to left and Ainsworth scores! 1 to 0, Beavers. Let's get them to the Bullpen early! They have no fresh pitchers; we have two. Templet steals 2nd. C John Ross is a good catcher, but P A.J. Yates is not good at holding runners close. Randy James grounds out to short and Templet hustles over to 3rd. Jeff Schottler swings at the first pitch and lines it just over the left field wall for a home run! 3 to 0, Beavers! Gary Long strikes out looking.

Bottom of the First:
The latest chapter in the Ron Wolf saga of "The Dreaded First Inning". The last chapter saw our hero apparently conquer the beast with no runs allowed, but will the monster make its return from apparent death stronger than ever as happens so often in these tales? Billy Anson doubles down the left field line... I see the monster emerging from the abyss... Gary Halbert swings at the first pitch and flies out to left. Chris Greenwald grounds a hit up the middle and Anson scores. 3 to 1, Beavers. The monster makes its attack.... Anson hurt himself sliding into home. It seems the monster's bite was so large it got more than just Ron Wolf in its maw... Ron Chestnut grounds out to 2nd and Greenwald goes to 3rd. 2 outs. Clint Graham fouls out to the catcher!

Top of the Third:
With 2 outs, Perry Templet triples to right and Randy James follows with a single! 4 to 1, Beavers!

Top of the Fourth:
Gary Long leads off with a double and with 1 out, Eddie Thomas singles. A wild pitch then scores Long! 5 to 1, Beavers! P Ron Wolf lines a hit to right! That send Yates packing. New Pitcher: Rich Kinney (33-R). Dale Ainsworth doubles to center and Thomas scores! 6 to 1, Beavers! Dennis Webb doubles to right to score both runners! 8 to 1, Beavers! That is all we get, though.

In the 6th inning, CF Perry Templet separated his shoulder....

Won - 10 to 2

The first time we have ever scored 10 or more runs in back-to-back games!

We had 16 hits and made no errors
San Francisco had 7 hits and had 2 errors

Ron Wolf (W 14-11) went 9 innings (CG), allowed 2 runs, 7 hits, no walks and struck out 2. At bat, he had a hit and scored a run.

A.J. Yates (L 6-6) went 3.1 innings, gave us 7 runs (6 earned), 8 hits, 1 home run, no walks and struck out 3.

RF Dale Ainsworth had 3 hits with a double, stole a base, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. C Dennis Webb had 2 hits with a double and 2 RBI. CF Perry Templet had 2 hits with a triple, stole a base, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. LF/CF Jeff Schottler hit his 10th home run of the season and had 2 RBI. 2B Gary Long had 2 hits with a double and scored 2 runs. SS Eddie Thomas had 2 hits, scored a run and had an RBI.

The Seals reported that Billy Anson just has a sore back and will be fine in a day or two.

Pepe the Trainer's report on Perry Templet is that it should take about four weeks for him to heal. That means his regular season is over, though he might be able to play in the PCL Championship Series, but probably miss at least the first 2 games of it. I told a grateful Christy the PA that she did not have to go the print shop because we did not use Humberto Montoya in the game, but I needed her to go down to the zoo after closing and meet this fellow I know and collect the jar of cream he gives her.... No, you will not have to rub it on Perry's shoulder, I promise. Oh, you WANT to rub it on Perry's shoulder? No, I don't think that would be appropriate.

[Questdog]

Friday, September 7, Year I

We waived RP Humberto Montoya (28-R) and designated him for assignment for the purpose of sending him back to Vancouver (AAA). We put CF Perry Templet (23-L) on the 15 day Disabled List. We activated P Terry Melton (26-R) from the Disabled List and recalled OF Woody Griesbach (23-R) from Vancouver.

We are back home in Portland to play a weeklong home stand. First up will be 3 games over the weekend with the Oakland Oaks. They just split a pair of games in San Diego. We are 8-4 against them on the season and won 2 of 3 the last time they visited us in the Skydome, June 29-July 1, the final series we got to play before we were kicked out of Eden. The Oaks are 6th in the PCL in scoring with 4.09 runs per game (Portland is up to 8th with 3.98!). Though they play in the best pitcher's park in Baseball, they are 9th in fewest runs allowed with 4.33 per game (Portland is still #1 with 3.36).

Oakland Oaks (66-75 .468 18.5 GB in 5th place in the PCL West) at
Portland Beavers (84-56 .600 in 1st place in the PCL West)

OAK: Bill Manning (37-L 0-1 6.00) vs. POR: Terry Melton (26-R 11-3 2.01)

Manning has had 3 starts this season and he has yet to strike out a batter. He has pitched 9 total innings in his 3 starts because he keeps getting injured. We have not faced him. We went 3 weeks without facing a lefty; Manning is the 5th in the last 8 games. Now that Perry Templet is hurt, we are probably a lot better against lefties than righties.

Melton is making his first start since July 13. He was one of the hottest pitchers going at that time. Can he rediscover his groove? Or will he just hurt his back again?

Editor's Note: I do not use rehab assignments, because they did not become a thing until the late 80's and were pretty rare until sometime in the 90's. I cannot turn them off for all the A.I. teams, but I will not use them for myself.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS)
OAKLAND
1: SS Henry Rangel (27-R .285-527-1-42-.653)
2: CF Roger Crandall (27-L .304-391-6-51-.794) Rookie
3: RF Tom Short (30-L .262-336-9-42-.761)
4: 1B Dave Russell (27-L .282-308-13-43-.779)
5: LF Roger Murphy (26-L .264-220-12-41-.774) Rookie
6: 3B Antonio Mata (27-R .259-440-9-49-.675)
7: 2B Avery Shular (29-R .215-158-0-14-.567)
8: C Paul Lyons (33-R .238-63-1-7-.602) Rookie
9: P Bill Manning (37-L .250-4-0-0-.500)

PORTLAND
1: RF Dale Ainsworth (26-L .301-518-7-52-.785)
2: SS Eddie Thomas (25-R .227-229-2-25-.574) Rookie
3: CF Jeff Schottler (24-R .254-410-10-43-.715) Rookie
4: 3B Randy James (32-R .277-440-14-67-.780)
5: 2B Gary Long (32-R .268-515-8-51-.698)
6: 1B Jeff Austin (29-R .237-489-13-63-.674)
7: LF Woody Griesbach (23-R .222-9-0-1-.556) Rookie
8: C Dave Benya (26-S .202-94-0-5-.516)
9: P Terry Melton (26-R .213-47-0-1-.527)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: The Skydome
Weather: Roof Closed
Attendance: 24,140

Top of the First:
Henry Rangel swings at the first pitch of the game and grounds one back to the mound. P Terry Melton bends over, picks the ball up and throws him out and apparently does no injure himself! Roger Crandall flies out to left. Tom Short grounds out to short! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the First:
Dale Ainsworth works the count full and then lines the payoff pitch into center for a hit! Eddie Thomas flies out to left. Jeff Schottler lines a double to the wall in left center and Ainsworth scores! 1 to 0, Beavers! Randy James draws a walk. Gary Long grounds out to short, Henry Rangel making a great stop, and the runners move up to 2nd and 3rd. 2 outs. Jeff Austin grounds out to short.

Bottom of the Second:
Woody Griesbach leads off with a double. Dave Benya grounds a hit to right. P Terry Melton bunts Benya to 2nd. Dale Ainsworth takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up. Eddie Thomas grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6, and Griesbach scores. 2 to 0, Beavers! Jeff Schottler grounds out to short.

Top of the Fourth:
Henry Rangel leads off with a hit, steals 2nd, goes to 3rd when C Dave Benya throws the ball into center for an error and scores on a ground out. 2 to 1, Beavers.

Top of the Fifth:
Antonio Mata walks on 4 pitches and with 1 out, Paul Lyons doubles to right. With the infield in, P Bill Manning grounds out to 2nd. 2 outs. Henry Rangel grounds out to 1st, 3-1!!!

Bottom of the Fifth:
With 2 outs, Randy James becomes the first strikeout victim of Bill Manning this season....

Bottom of the Seventh:
New Pitcher: Darryl Amar (26-R). 4.80 ERA. He has a loss against us. PH Gordon Saunderson (26-L) grounds a hit to right. P Terry Melton bunts him to 2nd. We should have probably pinch hit for Melton there, but I want him to qualify for the ERA title, so let's let him get as many inning as he can. He still needs 21 more and he should have plenty of time to make it, but you never know when he will get hurt again... Plus, our Bullpen is still hurting from that 19 inning game. They walk Dale Ainsworth intentionally to get to Eddie Thomas, who clears the bases with a double to center!! 4 to 1, Beavers! That is all we get...


Top of the Eighth:
Henry Rangel bunts his way on and Roger Crandall beats out an infield hit that P Terry Melton could not make a play on quick enough. It seems a little unmanly, don't you think, to take advantage of his bad back that way? With 2 outs, Roger Murphy clears the bases with a double to left center... 4 to 3, Beavers. Call to the Bullpen: Curt Riley (35-R), the only fresh arm in the Pen. Dennis Webb comes in to catch in a double switch. Antonio Mata doubles to left to tie the game at 4.... The luster has faded from the shiny new toy.... We walk Avery Shular intentionally, which is beyond stupid.... Paul Lyons then clears the bases with another double.... 6 to 4, Oaks. Lyons ends up on 3rd after the throw to the plate. PH Neil Rivers (24-S) grounds out to short.

Bottom of the Eighth:
New Pitcher: Marty Pierce (32-R). 2.44 ERA with 90 SO in 96 IP. Jeff Austin leads off with a seeing eye hit to left and then Woody Griesbach hits his 2nd double of the game. The infield is back and Dave Lesley grounds out to 3rd, but Austin holds to his bag...the chump... Dennis Webb grounds out to 2nd and Austin scores. 6 to 5, Oaks. Dale Ainsworth flies out to left to end the inning.

Bottom of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Phil Land (34-R), their recently promoted closer, since Tomas Cavazos (25-R) is on the Disabled List. He was claimed off waivers from Detroit on April 21. Much, much too good to be be on waivers.... We go down in order...

Lost - 6 to 5

Heads will roll....well, at least one head...

We had 9 hits and made 1 error
Oakland had 11 hits and made no errors

Terry Melton went 7.2 innings, allowed 4 runs, 9 hits, 2 walks and struck out 1.
RHP Curt Riley (L 1-1 BS 1) went 1.1 innings, allowed 2 runs, 2 hits and 1 walk (INT).

Bill Manning went 6 innings, gave us 2 runs, 5 hits, 2 walks and struck out 2.
RHP Darryl Amar (W 7-5) went 1 inning, gave us 2 runs, 2 hits and 2 walks (2 INT).
RHP Phil Land (SV 6) pitched a perfect 9th and struck out 1.

RF Dale Ainsworth had a hit and 2 walks (1 INT) and scored 2 runs. SS Eddie Thomas hit a double and had 3 RBI. LF Woody Griesbach hit 2 doubles and scored a run. PH Gordon Saunderson had a hit and scored a run.

Down on the Farm: In his first start back in Vancouver (AAA), Dave Cole (25-R) ruptured a tendon in his finger and is out for the season. So, we will not be tempted to bring him back to Portland this year...

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Questdog

Tuesday, September 4, Year I

Top of the Sixth:
We add another run with a 1 out single by Randy James, a double by Howard McNeal and a ground out by Gary Long. 9 to 0, Beavers. Are 9 runs enough, Mr. Tomski?

"Yes, sir. That is plenty, thanks."

Won - 9 to 2

We had 12 hits and made 1 error
San Diego had 7 hits and made no errors

If you had "Zero HR" in the Lonny Tomski pool, you are the winner!
But I do not think anyone picked that choice....

Lonny Tomski (W 1-2) went 7.2 innings, allowed 2 run, 7 hits, 3 walks and struck out 2. At bat, he had 2 hits and 3 RBI.

(grins from ear to ear)

Originally Posted by Questdog

Wednesday, September 5, Year I

Top of the Nineteenth:
We have tied our longest game of the year. Jeff Austin leads off with a home run to right! 8 to 7, Beavers. We need more though, I think... Perry Templet pokes a hit to right. Dennis Webb bunts him to 2nd. Stupidest move ever....because the P Antoine Redd is the next batter and we have no pinch-hitter left. I could use Lonny Tomski, maybe, because he is 5 for 13 (.385), but who wold pitch? Redd lines a hit to center and Templet scores! 9 to 7, Beavers! That bunt was brilliant!! Howard McNeal singles. Eddie Thomas flies out. Jeff Schottler singles to load the bases up with 2 outs. Full count to Randy James and he swings and dinks a hit to center and 2 runs score! 11 to 7, Beavers! Gary Long grounds out to 3rd to end the inning.

Bottom of the Nineteenth:
Let's hope a 4 run lead is enough... Marco Barron leads off with the 48th hit of this game. Ron Chestnut strikes out! Clint Graham, takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Chip Carpenter pokes a hit to left and the bases are loaded and the tying run is at the plate... Full count to Javy Vasquez and he takes ball 4 to force in a run. 11 to 8, Beavers. That brings the winning run to the plate. PH Fred Steede (33-L), the final player on their bench. 6 for 15 (.400) on the season, but at least he has not hit a home run. He grounds a hit to right and a run is in and the winning run is at 1st base. 11 to 9, Beavers. Still only 1 out... Billy Anson grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4, and another run is in. 11 to 10, Beavers. The tying run is 90 feet away, but there are 2 outs. Gary Halbert drives one into left center, but Perry Templet runs it down and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Beavers!!!

Won - 11 to 10 in 19 innings

I need a new cap because I chewed up the bill on this one...

[Questdog]

Saturday, September 8, Year I

We sent the old man, Curt Riley (35-R) back to Vancouver (AAA) and recalled Brian Hagans (25-R).

Oakland Oaks (67-75 .472 17.5 GB in 5th place in the PCL West) at
Portland Beavers (84-57 .596 in 1st place in the PCL West)

OAK: Les Clements (27-R 6-9 5.62) vs. POR: Frank Martin (26-R 14-9 2.91) Rookie

The one time we faced Clements, we scored 5 runs in 3.1 IP and he took a loss.

Martin is 2-1 in his last 4 starts, but has an ERA of 5.09. The last time he faced the Oaks, he pitched a 1 hit shutout. But that was back in those wonderful days of June.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS)
OAKLAND
1: LF Norm Wynne (25-R .269-360-12-44-.797) Rookie
2: SS Henry Rangel (27-R .286-532-1-42-.655)
3: RF Tom Short (30-L .264-341-9-42-.761)
4: 1B Dave Russell (27-L .280-311-13-43-.774)
5: C Don Stokes (39-R .253-379-14-46-.739) All-Star
6: CF Roger Crandall (27-L .303-396-6-52-.789) Rookie
7: 3B Antonio Mata (27-R .260-443-9-50-.678)
8: 2B Avery Shular (29-R .217-161-0-14-.573)
9: P Les Clements (27-R .179-39-0-2-.405)

PORTLAND
1: RF Dale Ainsworth (26-L .301-521-7-52-.786)
2: LF Woody Griesbach (23-R .308-13-0-1-.846) Rookie
3: CF Jeff Schottler (24-R .254-414-10-44-.717) Rookie
4: 3B Randy James (32-R .278-443-14-67-.780)
5: 2B Gary Long (32-R .266-519-8-51-.693)
6: 1B Jeff Austin (29-R .237-493-13-63-.672)
7: C Dave Benya (26-S .208-96-0-5-.525)
8: SS Eddie Thomas (25-R .226-234-2-28-.574) Rookie
9: P Frank Martin (26-S .167-60-0-1-.380) Rookie

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: The Skydome
Weather: Roof Closed
Attendance: 24,400

Top of the First:
Norm Wynne works the count full and then pops out to center. Henry Rangel grounds an 0-2 pitch up the middle for a hit and then steals 2nd. Tom Short strikes out! Dave Russell swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 2nd!

Bottom of the First:
Dale Ainsworth grounds out to 1st, unassisted. Woody Griesbach strikes out looking... I was starting to like him... Jeff Schottler grounds a 2-2 pitch to left for a hit. Randy James swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 3rd.

Top of the Second:
With 1 out, Roger Crandall triples off the wall in right center. No one hitter today... Antonio Mata homers to center.... 2 to 0, Oaks.

Bottom of the Third:
Eddie Thomas leads off with a hit, gets bunted over to 2nd by P Frank Martin and scores on a single by Dale Ainsworth. 2 to 1, Oaks. Dale Ainsworth gets caught stealing, one pitch before Woody Griesbach draws a walk....

Top of the Fourth:
Don Stokes leads off with a double into the left field corner that put a dent in the wall, but that is all they get.

Bottom of the Fourth:
With 2 outs, Jeff Austin singles to right and steals 2nd. Dave Benya singles to right and Tom Short throws Austin out at the plate....

Top of the Fifth:
Norm Wynne leads off with a triple to center and scores on a deep fly ball to right by Henry Rangel. 3 to 1, Oaks.

Bottom of the Fifth:
With 2 outs, Dale Ainsworth draws a walk. Woody Griesbach singles to right and Ainsworth heads to 3rd. Tom Short throws the ball away for an error and Ainsworth scores. 3 to 2, Oaks. Jeff Schottler singles to right and Tom Short throws Griesbach out at the plate....

Bottom of the Seventh:
PH Gordon Saunderson leads off with a single. He apparently does not have any of the power that Dave Dafoe said he did, but that was his 19th pinch hit of the season! PH Dennis Webb bunts him over to 2nd and Dale Ainsworth beats out an infield hit. They stick with Clements. Woody Griesbach grounds out to short, but Saunderson scores to tie the game at 3! They walk Jeff Schottler intentionally to get to Randy James, who has a 12 game hitting streak that needs to be extended. He works the count full and the runners are on the move with the pitch and he swings and pokes a hit to left and Ainsworth scored easily! 4 to 3, Beavers! That sends Clements to the showers. New Pitcher: Joe Peck (28-R) and his 2.18 ERA. Full count to Gary Long, who lines out to right.

Top of the Eighth:
New Pitcher: Don Schmidt (26-R), the only reliever somewhat restored after that 19 inning game. He is not entirely fresh and has not seemed quite right since he came back from the Disabled List. Glenn Pearce is in to play 3rd in a double switch and Dave Lesley is in play short. Full count to Dave Russell, who takes ball 4. Don Stoles bunts him over to 2nd. Roger Crandall flies out to center. Dave Murphy grounds out to 2nd, Gary Long making a nice play!

Bottom of the Eighth:
Jeff Austin leads off with a walk, steals 2nd and scores on a hit by Dave Benya! 5 to 3, Beavers! With 2 outs, Dale Ainsworth singles to left and Norm Wynne makes an error trying to retrieve the ball and Benya scores! 6 to 3, Beavers! Woody Griesbach walks and Jeff Schottler singles home Ainsworth! 7 to 3, Beavers! We let P Don Schmidt make the 3rd out.

Top of the Ninth:
Don Schmidt strikes out the side, 1-2-3!!! I guess he is back, baby!

Won - 7 to 3

We had 14 hits and made no errors
Oakland had 6 hits and made 2 errors

All 14 of our hits were singles; 4 of Oakland's 6 went for extra bases.

Frank Martin (W 15-9) went 7 innings, allowed 3 runs, 6 hits, 1 home run, 3 walks (1 INT) and struck out 4.
RHP Don Schmidt (SV 6) went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 walk and struck out 3.

Les Clements (L 6-10) went 6.2 innings, gave us 4 runs, 11 hits, 3 walks (1 INT) and struck out 2. At bat, he had a hit.

RF Dale Ainsworth had 3 hits with a walk, scored 3 runs and had 2 RBI. LF Woody Griesbach had a hit and 2 walks and an RBI. CF Jeff Schottler had 3 hits and an intentional walk and an RBI. C Dave Benya had 2 hits, scored a run and had an RBI. PH Gordon Saunderson had a hit and scored a run.

[Questdog]

Sunday, September 9, Year I

Oakland Oaks (67-76 .469 18.5 GB in 5th place in the PCL West) at
Portland Beavers (85-57 .599 in 1st place in the PCL West)

OAK: Leo Broyles (27-R 8-7 3.40) Rookie vs. POR: Lonny Tomski (27-R 1-2 4.25) Rookie

We have faced Broyles 3 times. Twice he beat us with excellent outings and once he had to leave in the 2nd inning with an injury before we could score any runs off him.

Tomski won his first Major League game last time out and did not allow a home run. He as allowed 7 in 42.1 IP.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS)
OAKLAND
1: LF Norm Wynne (25-R .268-365-12-44-.797) Rookie
2: SS Henry Rangel (27-R .286-535-1-43-.654)
3: RF Tom Short (30-L .262-344-9-42-.756)
4: 1B Dave Russell (27-L .277-314-13-43-.769)
5: C Don Stokes (39-R .255-381-14-46-.745) All-Star
6: CF Roger Crandall (27-L .302-400-6-52-.791) Rookie
7: 3B Antonio Mata (27-R .260-446-10-52-.685)
8: 2B Avery Shular (29-R .213-164-0-14-.567)
9: P Leo Broyles (27-R .226-31-0-2-.484) Rookie

PORTLAND
1: RF Dale Ainsworth (26-L .305-525-7-54-.793)
2: C Dennis Webb (25-L .258-275-0-20-.626)
3: CF Jeff Schottler (24-R .258-418-10-45-.726) Rookie
4: 3B Randy James (32-R .277-447-14-68-.778)
5: 2B Gary Long (32-R .266-523-8-51-.692)
6: 1B Joe Harrison (35-R .182-55-2-6-.590)
7: LF Woody Griesbach (23-R .313-16-0-2-.889) Rookie
8: SS Eddie Thomas (25-R .229-236-2-28-.578) Rookie
9: P Lonny Tomski (27-R .385-13-0-3-.890) Rookie

Game Start: 1:05 PM
Ballpark: The Skydome
Weather: 70 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 7 MPH wind blowing in from right.
Attendance: 21,679

Wish that was a 70 MPH wind, but Lonny will take every little bit of help he can.

Top of the First:
Norm Wynne grounds out to short. Henry Rangel grounds one to 3rd, but Randy James makes a bad throw for an error. Tom Short doubles to left and Rangel scores. 1 to 0, Oaks. Short hurt himself and has to leave the game. Pinch-Runner: Farley Ross (35-L), about the unrunniest pincher that ever was. Dave Russell flies out to right. Full count to Don Stokes and he takes strike three!

Bottom of the First:
Full count to Dale Ainsworth and he unloads on the payoff pitch and homers to right center to tie the game at 1! Dennis Webb strikes out. Jeff Schottler grounds out to 3rd. Randy James lines out to 1st.

Bottom of the Fourth:
Dennis Webb leads off with a double, his 18th in 277 AB, and Jeff Schottler beats out an infield hit to put runners at the corners with no outs. Randy James swings at the first pitch and knocks it over the fence in left for a 3 run home run!!! 4 to 1, Beavers! With 1 out, Joe Harrison singles, goes to 3rd on a hit by Woody Griesbach and scores on a fly ball by Eddie Thomas. 5 to 1, Beavers!

Top of the Fifth:
Antonio Mata, who has worn us out this year (.380/.415/1.035), leads off with a hit. With 1 out, out he goes to 2nd on a ground out and then scores on a 2 out single by Norm Wynne. 5 to 2, Beavers.

Bottom of the Fifth:
Dale Ainsworth leads off with a hit and they pull Broyles. New Pitcher: Dave Staffeld (26-R), a member of the starting rotation until recently. Dennis Webb doubles again down the right field line! Jeff Schottler grounds out to the pitcher... Randy James grounds out to short and Ainsworth scores. 6 to 2, Beavers. Gary Long grounds one to short, but Henry Rangel boots it! Joe Harrison strikes out to end the inning.

Top of the Seventh:
Antonio Mata leads off with a double, goes to 3rd on a deep fly ball and scores on a ground out by PH Larry Cooper (35-S). 6 to 3, Beavers.

Bottom of the Seventh:
New Pitcher: Darryl Amar (26-R). Dennis Webb and Jeff Schottler lead off with hits and then Randy James lines another ball over the left field fence for his 2nd 3 run home run of the day!!! 9 to 3, Beavers!!!

Are 9 runs enough, Mr. Tomski?

"Yes, sir. That is plenty, thanks."

Won - 9 to 3

Oakland is officially eliminated from the pennant race.
7 straight games that we have scored at least 5 runs, a new team record!

We had 13 hits and made 2 errors
Oakland had 9 hits and made 1 error

Lonny Tomski (W 2-2) went 7.2 innings, allowed 3 runs (2 earned), 8 hits, no walks and struck out 4. No HR for the 2nd game in a row!
RHP Antoine Redd went 1.1 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit and 1 walk.

Leo Broyles (L 8-8) went 4+ innings, gave us 6 runs, 7 hits, 2 home runs, 1 walk and struck out 1.

RF Dale Ainsworth had 2 hits with his 8th home run of the season and scored 2 runs. C Dennis Webb had 3 hits with 2 doubles and a walk and scored 2 runs. CF Jeff Schottler had 2 hits and scored 2 runs. 3B Randy James hit 2 home runs and had 7 RBI!! He is now batting .279/.334/.459 with 16 HR and 75 RBI. This from a fella that hit .213/.279/.302 with 5 HR and 44 RBI last year in 42 more AB than he has now!!! LF Woody Griesbach had 2 hits.

For the Oaks, 3B Antonio Mata had 3 hits with a double and scored 2 runs.

The Oaks reported than RF Tom Short had a tight hamstring and would be fine in a few days.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Questdog

Sunday, September 9, Year I

Are 9 runs enough, Mr. Tomski?

"Yes, sir. That is plenty, thanks."

Won - 9 to 3

[…] Lonny Tomski (W 2-2) went 7.2 innings, allowed 3 runs (2 earned), 8 hits, no walks and struck out 4. No HR for the 2nd game in a row!
RHP Antoine Redd went 1.1 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit and 1 walk.

This team could long have locked down a postseason berth if those so smart guys up there would have listened to what the fans wanted from the very beginning. There's 10,000 scouts in the park at any given day - the rest are kids up to any shenanigans but watching the ballgame - and they listen to one or two know-it-alls who couldn't have played high school varsity ball if the actual first team had all been on a bus plunging into a ravine. Tsk!

Ah, just glad Tommy Lonski has about secured a spot in the postseason rotation.

(Isn't it weird how the heart attaches to run-of-the-mill scratch players that are definitely in the bottom five of the 25-man roster and easily replaceable? But the heart wants what the heart wants…!)

[Questdog]

Monday, September 10, Year I

Monday Morning Report
NL Player of the Week - Raphael Montes, 3B, Pittsburgh (30-L .303/.381/.451) Had 12 hits with 2 2B, 3 HR, 3 BB, 2 SO, 1 SB, 0 CS, 6 R and 8 RBI in 7 G (2nd PoW this year)
PCL Player of the Week - Randy James, 3B, Portland (32-R .279/.334/.459) Had 14 hits with 1 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 2 BB, 3 SO, 7 R and 15 RBI in 7 G (1st Beaver hitter to win PoW)

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

September 4 - 3B Ivan Gallegas (34-R) of Denver had 3 hits with 2 home runs and a walk and 5 RBI at home versus Houston. The Bears won, 6 to 3.
September 5 - Oakland lost rookie SP Jackie Payne (25-L) for a full calendar year with a torn UCL. He was 8-8 with a 2.49 ERA in 21 starts. 3 innings shy of qualifying for the leader boards.
September 7 - Kiyomasu Morita (27-L) of Cincinnati pitched a 3 hit shutout at Detroit. He did not walk and batter and struck out 6. He is now 8-13 with a 4.20 ERA. The Reds won, 3 to 0.
September 7 - C Ivan Meraz (31-R) of Boston had 5 hits with 2 doubles and a home run, scored 2 runs and had 3 RBI at home versus Philadelphia. The Braves won, 10 to 4, to take a 1 game lead in the NL East. Boston scored 6 runs off the Phillie's rookie ace, John Senese (25-R) in 3.1 IP. Senese was 16-4 and leading the NL in ERA at 1.87 coming into the game.
September 9 - Los Angeles beat San Francisco at Candlestick Park, 6 to 5, in 16 innings.
September 9 - When their 3 game series in Fenway Park began, Philadelphia and Boston were tied for the lead in the NL East. After sweeping the Phillies, the Braves now have a 3 game lead. The two teams will play 3 games next weekend in Philadelphia.

Random Fact of Week: I hate to jinx things, but it may be possible that the good times of June have returned. It is a bit premature, but the early signs are promising. We are 7-2 in September. which is good for the exact winning percentage we enjoyed in June (.778). Even though our offense has not been terrific most of this season, they have at least scored more runs than they did last year (578 to 577) and still have 19 more games to add to the total. In the 9 games of September, we are averaging over 7 runs a game!!!