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

[Questdog]

Friday, April 22, 2005

Trade #60
2B Jim Comeaux (21-R) to Atlanta for RP Jimmy Taylor (32-R).

Comeaux was our 4th round pick in this year's B Leagues Draft.

Taylor was an All-Star in 2003 and is owed $950,000 this season and also next.

C Jay Kerksieck (27-R) was activated from the Disabled List and C Stan DiPrima (25-L) and RP Larry McLellan (28-R) was sent to Vancouver (A).

Sacramento Solons (8-8 .500 2 GB tied for 2nd place in the PCL West) at
Portland Beavers (10-6 .625 2 GA in 1st place in the PCL West)

SAC: Ben Blachford (28-R 2-0 4.58) vs POR: John Krawczyk (26-L 1-1 4.24)

Blachford was claimed off waivers from the World Champion Minnesota Twins 3 days after the World Series. He was 11-7 with a 3.72 ERA last year, but only pitched in relief in the postseason. He pitched a 2 hit shutout in his first start for the Solons, but has allowed 5 runs in each of his last two. Only 3 IP and 8 hits allowed in the last one, but he did not get the loss. We faced him once last year and beat him scoring 6 runs in 6.2 IP.

Krawczyk gave up only 4 hits and a walk in 6 IP, but 3 runs, though he did get his first win.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
SACRAMENTO
1: 2B John Mathieu (27-R .305-59-0-10-.718 82)
2: RF Harvey Turner (27-L .277-47-0-9-.747 85)
3: LF Ray Knowles (21-L .323-65-0-10-.806 56)
4: CF Paul Moreland (24-L .339-62-2-8-.924 64)
5: 3B German Benites (35-R .289-38-0-3-.714 37)
6: 1B Alexis Quiroga (26-R .111-27-0-1-.321 65)
7: C Ryushi Suzuki (27-R Season debut 66)
8: SS Angel Arana (29-R .163-49-0-3-.497 67)
9: P Ben Blachford (28-R .200-5-0-0-.533 1)

PORTLAND
1: 2B George Brock (24-L .333-60-0-6-.806 102)
2: RF Enrique Ramos (26-L .273-55-5-11-.874 73) 3-time All-Star(02-04)/Silver Slugger(CF-03)/RoY(01)/Gold Glove(LF-01)
3: LF Kim Springer (24-L .339-62-3-11-.970 58)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (28-R .250-52-5-9-.942 62) 3-time Silver Slugger(02-04)/4-time All-Star/Gold Glove(01)
5: C Tim Higbee (22-S .250-52-2-9-.733 55) All-Star/Gold Glove
6: 3B Jeff Galka (36-R .264-53-4-7-.832 58)
7: SS Darrell Grigg (23-L .174-46-0-1-.414 114)
8: CF Jerry Suazo (30-L .273-55-3-6-.824 71)
9: P John Krawczyk (26-L .000-6-0-0-.000 1)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Metropolitan Stadium
Weather: 61 F, Clear Skies, with a 16 MPH wind blowing in from right
Attendance: 18,069

Top of the First:
John Mathieu grounds out to short. Harvey Turner grounds out to short. Ray Knowles grounds out to 3rd! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the First:
George Brock swings at the first pitch and lines one to deep left, but Ray Knowles runs it down. Enrique Ramos swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 1st, unassisted. Kim Springer takes a strike before grounding a hit up the middle. Glenn Snowden hits a home run to left center!! 2 to 0, Beavers! It's all or nothing so far this season for Snowden. Tim Higbee swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 2nd.

Top of the Second:
Paul Moreland swings at the first pitch and triples to right... Already his fourth triple of the season. German Benites swings at the first pitch and flies out to deep right and Moreland tags up and scores. 2 to 1, Beavers.

Bottom of the Second:
Jeff Galka and Darrell Grigg each take a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Jerry Suazo swings at a 3-2 pitch and lines out to 3rd and they double Galka off at 2nd... P John Krawczyk grounds out to short.

Bottom of the Third:
With 2 outs, Kim Springer takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Glenn Snowden hits another home run to right center!! 4 to 0, Beavers!

Top of the Fourth:
On an 0-1 pitch, Harvey Turner tries to bunt his away aboard, but whiffs on the attempt. So he instead hits a home run to right center... 4 to 2, Beavers. His first home run in 2 years...

Bottom of the Sixth:
On the Hill: Bill Emery (38-R), after a perfect 5th. He gave us 2 runs on 2 HR in 1.2 IP yesterday. Jerry Suazo and A.J. Lee hit them. Glenn Snowden takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Tim Higbee triples to center and Snowden scores! 5 to 2, Beavers! They walk Jeff Galka intentionally. Darrell Grigg swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit up the middle and Higbee scores! 6 to 2, Beavers! Jerry Suazo, who hit a home run off P Emery yesterday, doubles to center and Galka scores! 7 to 2, Beavers! I think P Emery might want to think about hanging up his spikes... P John Krawczyk strikes out on 3 pitches. George Brock lines out to short and they double Grigg off at 3rd... He must have heard me...

Top of the Seventh:
German Benites and Alexis Quiroga lead off with back to back hits. The Bullpen gets up. Ryushi Suzuki grounds into a force at 2nd, 1-6, and Benites goes to 3rd. Angel Arana fouls out to the catcher! PH Stan Salfer (25-R), a rookie who is batting .267 in 15 AB, flies out to deep center!

Bottom of the Seventh:
New Pitcher: Ken Riggins (28-R), with a 4.50 ERA in 4 IP. He has been released 7 times in his career... With 1 out, Kim Springer swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit to right. Glenn Snowden grounds into a force at 2nd, 1-6. With 2 outs, Tim Higbee swings at the first pitch and doubles to left. Jeff Galka clears the bases with a triple to left center!! 9 to 2, Beavers! Darrell Grigg strikes out looking...

Bottom of the Eighth:
With 1 out, P John Krawczyk doubles to left center. With 2 outs, Enrique Ramos draws a walk. Kim Springer grounds a hit to center and Paul Moreland muffs the pick up and P Krawczyk scores and runners are at 2nd and 3rd. 10 to 2, Beavers! Glenn Snowden draws a walk to load the bases up with 2 outs. Tim Higbee swings at the first pitch and pops out to right...

Won - 10 to 2

We had 11 hits and made 1 error
Sacramento had 8 hits and made 1 error

12 straight games with at least 1 home run, a new Beaver record!

John Krawczyk (W 2-1) went 9 innings (CG), allowed 2 runs, 8 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk and struck out 4. He threw a WP. 89 pitches. At bat, he hit a double and scored a run.

Ben Blachford (L 2-1) went 4 innings, gave us 4 runs, 3 hits, 2 home runs, 4 walks and struck out no one.

LF Kim Springer had 3 hits and a walk, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. 1B Glenn Snowden hit 2 home run, drew 2 walks, scored 4 runs and had 4 RBI. He now has 7 HR on the season. C Tim Higbee hit a double and a triple, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. 3B Jeff Galka hit a triple, drew 2 walks (1 INT), scored a run and had 2 RBI. SS Darrell Grigg had a hit and a walk and an RBI, but made his 4th error already. His range is amazing, but he is going to have to tighten up his glove work and start hitting a little more or he will be sent back to Vancouver (A). CF Jerry Suazo hit a double, drew a walk and had an RBI.

Around the League: There is a 5-way tie for 1st in the NL West at 9-8. 6 clubs in the NL East are 10-7 or better...

Beatin' the Bushes: There is a pitcher in the B Leagues named Robin Peter (19-R). If he ever has a teammate with the last name of Paul, we will have to nickname that fella 'Toupee'....

[Questdog]

Saturday, April 23, 2005

Sacramento Solons (8-9 .471 3 GB tied for 4th place in the PCL West) at
Portland Beavers (11-6 .647 2 GA in 1st place in the PCL West)

SAC: Jack Hill (24-L 1-1 3.86) vs POR: Ron Marling (24-R 0-0 2.77)

Hill gave up 2 runs in 8 IP to get his first win of the season last time out. He was 0-3 in 4 starts against us last year, but had one really good game and another pretty good one and the two bad ones were not horrible.

Marling gave up 2 unearned runs in 5 innings, but 6 hits, 2 walks and no strikeouts for his 3rd straight no decision to start the season.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
SACRAMENTO
1: LF Ray Knowles (21-L .319-69-0-10-.789 56)
2: RF Harvey Turner (27-L .275-51-1-10-.787 85)
3: 3B German Benites (35-R .317-41-0-4-.749 37)
4: CF Paul Moreland (24-L .333-66-2-8-.929 64)
5: 1B Alexis Quiroga (26-R .161-31-0-1-.406 65)
6: C Matt McKnight (28-R .242-33-0-5-.641 67)
7: 2B John Mathieu (27-R .302-63-0-10-.704 82)
8: SS Angel Arana (29-R .154-52-0-3-.483 67)
9: P Jack Hill (24-L .167-6-0-0-.333 19)

PORTLAND
1: SS Dave Risinger (29-R .214-14-0-0-.598 85)
2: 2B George Brock (24-L .308-65-0-6-.748 102)
3: C Tim Higbee (22-S .263-57-2-10-.791 55) All-Star/Gold Glove
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (28-R .273-55-7-13-1.088 62) 3-time Silver Slugger(02-04)/4-time All-Star/Gold Glove(01)
5: 3B Jeff Galka (36-R .273-55-4-9-.897 58)
6: RF Leon Davis (23-R .167-12-0-0-.333 83) Rookie
7: LF Kim Springer (24-L .364-66-3-12-1.009 58)
8: CF Jayson Pemberton (21-R .286-7-0-1-.661 100)
9: P Ron Marling (24-R .500-4-0-0-1.000 17)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Metropolitan Stadium
Weather: 56 F, Clear Skies, with a 7 MPH wind blowing right to left
Attendance: 19,282

Top of the First:
Ray Knowles lines one hard to the gap in right center, but Jayson Pemberton runs it down! Harvey Turner grounds a hit up the middle. German Benites lines one hard to deep left, but Kim Springer chases it down! Paul Moreland grounds out to 1st, unassisted!

Bottom of the First:
Dave Risinger flies out to left. George Brock strikes out... Tim Higbee lines a hit to left. Glenn Snowden lines a hit to center. Jeff Galka lines a hit to right and Higbee scores! 1 to 0, Beavers! Leon Davis swings at the first pitch and grounds out to short.

Top of the Second:
Alexis Quiroga lines a double to left center. With 1 out, he steals 3rd. His first steal of the season... John Mathieu grounds out to the pitcher and Quiroga stays put! Angel Arana grounds out to the pitcher!

Bottom of the Second:
Kim Springer leads off with a walk. Jayson Pemberton grounds into a force at 2nd, 5-4. P Ron Marling bunts him to 2nd. With 2 outs, Dave Risinger swings at a 3-2 pitch and lines a double down the left field line and Pemberton scores! 2 to 0, Beavers! George Brock grounds a hit to center and Risinger scores without a throw! 3 to 0, Beavers!

Top of the Third:
With 1 out, Ray Knowles grounds a hit to right. P Ron Marling tries to pick him off, but throws the ball away for an error... Already his 3rd error of the season... With 2 outs, German Benites bloops a hit to right center and Knowles scores. 3 to 1, Beavers. Paul Moreland doubles to center... Alexis Quiroga grounds out to 3rd!

Bottom of the Third:
Our 4-5-6 hitters go down in order on 3 pitches...

Top of the Fourth:
Matt McKnight grounds a hit to right and goes to 2nd on a wild pitch... But the next three make outs, with the last two striking out!

Top of the Sixth:
With 2 outs, John Mathieu hits a home run to left... 3 to 2, Beavers. His first of the season...

Bottom of the Seventh:
With 1 out, George Brock grounds a hit up the middle. Tim Higbee doubles to center. They walk Glenn Snowden intentionally to load the bases up with 1 out. They walk Jeff Galka unintentionally on 4 pitches to force in a run! 4 to 2, Beavers! Leon Davis grounds into a force at home, 1-2. Kim Springer loops a hit to center and Snowden scores! 5 to 2, Beavers. That sends P Jack Hill to the showers. New Pitcher: Jerry Rigsby (26-L), who pitched 2 scoreless innings yesterday. Jayson Pemberton lines a hit to right and 2 runs score! 7 to 2, Beavers! PH Kay Kerksieck (27-R), making his Beaver debut, lines out hard to right.

Won - 7 to 2

We had 11 hits and made 1 error
Sacramento had 10 hits and made 1 error

Our record streak of 12 games with at least 1 home run came to an end.

Ron Marling (W 1-0) went 6 innings, allowed 2 runs, 8 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk and struck out 4. He threw a WP. 99 pitches.
LHP Steve Stewart (H 3) went 1 scoreless inning, allowed 1 walk and struck out 1.
RHP Rich Larkin pitched a perfect inning and struck out 1.
RHP Jimmy Taylor, in his Beaver debut, went 1 scoreless inning and allowed 2 hits.

Jack Hill (L 1-2) went 6.2 innings, gave us 7 runs, 9 hits, 5 walks (2 INT) and struck out 2. 110 pitches.

SS Dave Risinger hit a double, scored a run and had an RBI. 2B George Brock had 2 hits, scored a run and had an RBI. C Tim Higbee had 3 hits with a double and a walk and scored a run. 1B Glenn Snowden had a hit and a walk (INT) and scored a run. 3B Jeff Galka had 2 hits and a walk, scored a run and had 2 RBI. LF Kim Springer had a hit and 2 walks (1 INT) and an RBI. CF Jayson Pemberton had a hit, scored a run and had 2 RBI. PH Jay Kerksieck, in his Beaver debut, lined out to right.

Around the League: Denver won at San Antonio, 8 to 2, ending the Missions string of 13 straight games of holding their opponent to 2 or fewer runs and their streak of 17 straight to start the season allowing 4 or fewer runs.

[Questdog]

Sunday, April 24, 2005

Sacramento Solons (8-10 .444 4 GB tied for 5th place in the PCL West) at
Portland Beavers (12-6 .667 2 GA in 1st place in the PCL West)

SAC: Bruce Horne (22-R 0-0 1.50) Rookie vs POR: Barry Phillips (21-R 3-1 3.49) CY/All-Star/Gold Glove(03)

Horne was a 4th round pick in this year's B League Draft. He struck out 307 batters in 245 IP, but walked 134 and gave up 18 HR, all league-leading totals. He was not ranked as a prospect by Baseball America. He has gone 6 innings in each of his 1st 2 starts and allowed 1 run in each and 5 total hits, 5 walks and 8 SO and no HR.

Phillips pitched a 3 hit shutout last time out.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
SACRAMENTO
1: LF Ray Knowles (21-L .329-73-0-10-.807 56)
2: RF Harvey Turner (27-L .286-56-1-10-.788 85)
3: CF Paul Moreland (24-L .329-70-2-8-.919 64)
4: 1B Larry Pierce (32-L .273-33-0-4-.702 55)
5: 2B John Mathieu (27-R .299-67-1-11-.737 82)
6: 3B Nicholas Buffey (28-R .346-26-0-3-.779 63)
7: SS Angel Arana (29-R .161-56-0-3-.484 67)
8: C Ryushi Suzuki (27-R .000-4-0-0-.000 66)
9: P Bruce Horne (22-S .000-2-0-0-.000 45) Rookie

PORTLAND
1: 2B George Brock (24-L .314-70-0-7-.751 102)
2: RF Enrique Ramos (26-L .254-59-5-11-.827 73) 3-time All-Star(02-04)/Silver Slugger(CF-03)/RoY(01)/Gold Glove(LF-01)
3: LF Kim Springer (24-L .368-68-3-13-1.024 58)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (28-R .271-59-7-13-1.058 62) 3-time Silver Slugger(02-04)/4-time All-Star/Gold Glove(01)
5: 3B Jeff Galka (36-R .293-58-4-11-.928 58)
6: CF Jerry Suazo (30-L .276-58-3-7-.844 71)
7: SS Darrell Grigg (23-L .184-49-0-2-.443 114) Rookie
8: C Jay Kerksieck (27-R .000-1-0-0-.000 66) 1st start as a Beaver
9: P Barry Phillips (21-R .400-10-1-1-1.300 58) CY/All-Star/Gold Glove(03)

Game Start: 1:05 PM
Ballpark: Metropolitan Stadium
Weather: 62 F, Clear Skies, with a 12 MPH wind blowing in from right
Attendance: 19,509

Top of the First:
Ray Knowles flies out to center. Harvey Turner beats out an infield hit. He steals 2nd. C Jay Kerksieck has a much better arm than Tim Higbee, but Barry Phillips does not hold runners well... Paul Moreland flies out to center. Larry Pierce pops out to short!

Bottom of the First:
George Brock lines a double down the left field line! Enrique Ramos swings at a 3-0 pitch and doubles to left center and Brock scores! 1 to 0, Beavers! Kim Springer grounds one to short, but Angel Arana throws it away for a 2 base error and Ramos scores! 2 to 0, Beavers! Glenn Snowden draws a walk. Jeff Galka grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4, and Springer goes to 3rd. Jerry Suazo flies one down the left field line and Ray Knowles makes a great catch, but Springer tags up and trots home. 3 to 0, Beavers! Darrell Grigg grounds out to 2nd.

Top of the Third:
Ryushi Suzuki lines a hit to left center. P Bruce Horne bunts him to 2nd. Ray Knowles lines a hit to center. Knowles tries to steal, but C Jay Kerksieck throws him out! The 2nd runner he has thrown out today! Harvey Turner grounds a hit up the middle and Suzuki scores... 3 to 1, Beavers.

Top of the Fifth:
Angel Arana takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Ryushi Suzuki grounds a hit to center... P Bruce Horne bunts them up. Ray Knowles grounds out to short and Arana scores and Suzuki goes to 3rd. 3 to 2, Beavers. Harvey Turner grounds a hit to center, their 7th of the game, and Suzuki scores... Tie Game: 3 to 3.

Bottom of the Fifth:
With 1 out, George Brock doubles to center. A wild pitch sends him to 3rd. With the infield in, Enrique Ramos grounds a hit through the right side and Brock scores! 4 to 3, Beavers! With 2 outs, Glenn Snowden grounds a hit to right. Jeff Galka trikes to check his swings on a 3-2 pitch, but gets rung up...

Top of the Ninth:
On the Hill: Rich Larkin (25-R), after getting 2 outs in the 8th. 6-7-8 up for the Solons. Nicholas Buffey grounds out to short. Angel Arana strikes out on 3 pitches! Ryushi Suzuki swings at the first pitch and fouls out to 1st and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Beavers!

Won - 4 to 3

Sweep!

We had 7 hits and made no errors
Sacramento had 9 hits (all singles) and made 2 errors

Barry Phillips (W 4-1) went 7 innings, allowed 3 runs, 8 hits, 2 walks and struck out 1. 100 pitches.
LHP Dave Briggs (H 1) got 1 out and allowed 1 hit and struck out 1.
RHP Rich Larkin (SV 3) faced 5 batters and got them all out with 2 strikeouts.

Bruce Horne (L 0-1) went 6 innings, gave us 4 runs (3 earned), 7 hits, 2 walks and struck out 2. He threw a WP.

2B George Brock hit 2 doubles and scored 2 runs. RF Enrique Ramos had 2 hits with a double, scored a run and had 2 RBI. 1B Glenn Snowden had a hit and 2 walks.

For Sacramento, RF Harvey Turner had 3 hits, stole 3 bases and had 2 RBI.

[Questdog]

April 25, 2005

Monday Morning Report
NL Player of the Week - Dick Panos, RF, Atlanta (28-R .290/.342/.536) Had 9 hits with 4 HR, 4 BB, 3 SO, 5 R and 6 RBI in 5 G (3rd career PoW)
PCL Player of the Week - Joe Taylor, C, Denver (24-R .438/.500/.609) Had 12 hits with 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 BB, 2 SO, 8 R and 3 RBI in 6 G ( 5 GS) (3rd career PoW)

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

April 18 - 1B Gus McCollum (33-R) of Hollywood had a hit and 2 RBI at home versus Los Angeles to extend his all-time record hitting streak to 40 games. The Angels outhit the Stars, 18 to 9, but lost, 9 to 7.
April 18 - Rob Schwartz (26-R) of Cincinnati pitched a 4 hit shutout at Detroit. He walked 3 and struck out 5. It is the first shutout of his career. He is now 2-1 with a 3.48 ERA in 3 starts, the first 3 starts of his 4 year career. The Reds won, 3 to 0, and only had 3 hits themselves.
April 19 - Baltimore lost SP Felipe Diaz (28-R) for the rest of the season, most likely, with a torn rotator cuff. He was 1-2 with a 2.10 ERA 4 starts. Last year, he was 17-12 with a 2.58 ERA in 33 starts with 240.1 IP.
April 19 - Javier Meneses (23-R) of Washington pitched a 3 hit shutout at home versus Philadelphia. He walked 1 and struck out 5. At bat, he had a hit and scored a run. It is his 2nd shutout of the season and the 8th of his career. He is now 3-1 with an 0.56 ERA in 4 starts. The Nationals won, 6 to 0.
April 20 - Graham Pethel (28-R) of New York pitched a 2 hit shutout at home versus Baltimore. He walked 1 and struck out 5. At bat, he had a hit, scored a run and had an RBI. It is the 13th shutout of his career. He is now 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 4 starts. The Giants won, 5 to 0.
April 21 - Bobby Brown (31-R) of Toronto pitched a 2 hit shutout at New York, against his old team. He won 20 games for the Giants in 2001. He walked 2 and struck out 3. At bat, he hit a home run, the 4th of his career. It is the 5th shutout of his career. He is now 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA in 3 starts. The Blue Jays won, 2 to 0, and only had 5 hits themselves.
April 21 - 1B Burt McTyre (31-R) of Cleveland went 0 for 1, but drew 4 walks, stole a base and scored 4 runs at Miami. The next hitter in the lineup, RF Jim Wagner (26-L) went 1 for 2 and also drew 4 walks and scored 4 runs and had an RBI. The Indians won, 14 to 8, and drew 12 walks as a team. For the Marlins, 3B Willie Gonzalez (26-R) had 3 hits with a home run, stole a base, scored 3 runs and had 3 RBI.
April 22 - LF Fernando Martinez (30-L) of New York, an ex-Beaver, had 2 hits with a Grand Slam and 5 RBI at home versus Toronto. It was his 1st HR of the year and he is now batting .220 with 8 RBI. The Giants won, 7 to 3.
April 23 - RF Ken Manning (26-R) of Kansas City had 4 hits with a home run and a walk, scored 3 runs and had 4 RBI at Dallas. The Royals won, 13 to 1.
April 23 - Bob Williams (27-R) of Atlanta pitched a 5 hit shutout at St. Louis. He walked 2 and struck out 2. At bat, he went 2 for 2 with a double and 2 RBI. It is the 1st shutout of his career. He is now 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA in 4 starts. The Crackers won, 5 to 0.
April 24 - 1B Gus McCollum (33-R) of Hollywood went 0 for 3 with a walk at home versus San Francisco and ex-Beaver Duke McKenzie (27-R), ending his record hitting streak at 44 games. The Stars won, though, 2 to 1.
April 24 - Bud Fields (29-R) of New York pitched a 1 hit shutout at home versus Toronto. He did not walk a batter and struck out 9. It is his 2nd shutout of the season and the 7th of his career. It is the 2nd 1 hitter he has tosses in his career. He is now 2-2 with a 1.56 ERA in 5 starts. The Giants won, 3 to 0.
April 24 - Glen Hebert (27-R) of Brooklyn pitched a 2 hit shutout at Washington. He walked 4 and struck out 5. 134 pitches thrown. It is the 6th shutout of his career. He is now 2-1 with a 3.94 ERA in 4 starts. The Dodgers won, 1 to 0, and only had 4 hits themselves. Javier Meneses (23-R) was the tough luck loser. He has only allowed 3 runs all season, but has managed to lose 2 games.

[Questdog]

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

We are in Hollywood to play the Stars a 2 game set. They swept the Seals in 4 games here over the weekend. We were 9-5 against them last year when they finished 83-79 in 3rd place in the PCL West. We are 25-31 (.446) since 2001, the only losing record we have against anyone in the West. They are 6th in the PCL in scoring with 4.42 runs per game (Portland is now #1 with 5.05!). The Stars have only hit 7 HR, but are hitting .284 as a team. We are batting .268 and have the most HR with 27. They are 10th in fewest runs allowed with 4.32 per game (Portland is #5 with 3.79). Their run differential is +2 and ours us up to +24, the best in the West, but 3rd in the PCL. They made one big acquisition over the Winter, signing SP Jeff Hunt (29-R) as a free agent from Baltimore. He was 14-6 with a 3.59 ERA last year with the Orioles and was an All-Star in 2002.

Portland Beavers (13-6 .684 2 GA in 1st place in the PCL West) at
Hollywood Stars (11-8 .579 2 GB in 2nd place in the PCL West)

POR: Bobby Johnson (26-R 2-1 3.33) vs HOL: Sam Henderson (30-R 2-2 1.45) 3-time All-Star(01-02,04)

Johnson gave up 10 hits in 7 IP, but only 2 runs to get his 2nd win in a row the last time out.

Henderson is their #1 starter. He pitched a 6 hit shutout in his last start, the 15th shutout of his career. None of them against the Beavers. He was 1-1 in 3 starts against us last year with the win being the only good game. The very first game the Beavers ever played after I took over the team was against Sam Henderson when he was with the Angels. We lost, 2 to 1, in extra innings. He is 7-3 all-time against us. His best season, record-wise, was 2003, the one year he did not make the All-Star team. He finished 19-9 that season.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
PORTLAND
1: 2B George Brock (24-L .324-74-0-7-.791 102)
2: RF Enrique Ramos (26-L .274-62-5-13-.867 73) 3-time All-Star(02-04)/Silver Slugger(CF-03)/RoY(01)/Gold Glove(LF-01)
3: LF Kim Springer (24-L .347-72-3-13-.969 58)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (28-R .279-61-7-13-1.071 62) 3-time Silver Slugger(02-04)/4-time All-Star/Gold Glove(01)
5: C Tim Higbee (22-S .290-62-2-10-.848 55) All-Star/Gold Glove
6: 3B Jeff Galka (36-R .274-62-4-11-.870 58)
7: SS Darrell Grigg (23-L .192-52-0-2-.455 114) Rookie
8: CF Jerry Suazo (30-L .271-59-3-8-.835 71)
9: P Bobby Johnson (26-R .250-8-0-0-.625 1)

HOLLYWOOD
1: 2B Dale Grimwood (24-R .239-67-0-2-.604 77)
2: RF Jorge Govantes (25-R .350-20-0-2-.885 68)
3: 1B Gus McCollum (33-R .388-67-0-12-.952 80) Strained back
4: LF Jose Naranjo (31-R .279-68-1-11-.699 75) 3-time All-Star(01-03)
5: 3B Larry Church (30-L .250-68-0-11-.604 54)
6: C Tony Figueroa (31-R .368-19-0-0-.823 45) Rookie
7: CF Fran Beck (23-S .000-6-0-1-.250 94) Rookie #75 prospect Calf soreness
8: SS Jerry Hatcher (28-R .328-64-3-10-.941 97) Hit .193 last year
9: P Sam Henderson (30-L .100-10-0-1-.200 40) 3-time All-Star(01-02,04)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Gilmore Stadium
Weather: 75 F, Clear Skies, with a 12 MPH wind blowing out to left
Attendance: 21,851

Top of the First:
George Brock swings at the first pitch and grounds out to short. Enrique Ramos swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 3rd. Kim Springer takes a strike before grounding a double over the 1st base bag. Glenn Snowden lines a 2-2 pitch to center for a hit and Springer scores without a throw! 1 to 0, Beavers! Tim Higbee lines a 1-2 pitch to left for a hit. Jim Galka lines a hit to center and Snowden heads home....Out... Rookie Frank Beck has an arm that you should not challenge...

Bottom of the First:
Dale Grimwood flies out to center. Jorge Govantes takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... Gus McCollum, who ended his historic 44 game hitting streak in his last game, starts a new one with a line drive hit to left. Jose Naranjo grounds out slowly to 3rd and the runners move up. Larry Church takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with 2 outs. 31 year old rookie Tony Figueroa swings at the first pitch and flies out to left!

Top of the Third:
Kim Springer and Glenn Snowden lead off with back to back hits. Tim Higbee grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6, and Springer goes to 3rd. Jeff Galka swings at the first pitch and flies out to deep center and Springer trots home. 2 to 0, Beavers! Darrell Grigg beats out an infield hit. A passed ball moves the runners up. Jerry Suazo grounds out to 2nd...

Bottom of the Third:
Dale Grimwood tales a 3-2 pitch for ball 4, the 3rd walk already issued by P Bobby Johnson. Jorge Govantes grounds a double play ball to 2nd, but George Brock makes a bad throw to 2nd for an error... His 3rd error already... Gus McCollum grounds into a 5-4-3 double play and Grimwood goes to 3rd! Jose Naranjo swings at the first pitch and pops out to 2nd!

Through 4 innings, we have 10 hits, but only 2 runs...

Top of the Sixth:
Jerry Suazo beats out and infield hit. P Bobby Johnson bunts him to 2nd and he goes to 3rd on a ground out. With 2 outs, Enrique Ramos hits a home run to left!! 4 to 0, Beavers!

Top of the Seventh:
With 1 out, Tim Higbee grounds a hit to right. Jeff Galka grounds a hit up the middle. Darrell Grigg grounds into a force at 2nd, 3-6, and Higbee goes to 3rd. Jerry Suazo lines a hit to right and Higbee scores! 5 to 0, Beavers! P Bobby Johnson grounds his third hit of the game to right and the bases are loaded with 2 outs. That does it for P Sam Henderson, who has given us 17 hits today! New Pitcher: Pete Carney (33-R), who was signed after being cut by Atlanta. He has a 6.28 ERA in 14.1 IP with 1 start. He was 16-9 in 35 starts with a 3.41 ERA for Washington in 2001. George Brock takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to force in a run! 6 to 0, Beavers! That is our first walk of the game! Enrique Ramos lines a hit to left and Suazo scores! 7 to 0, Beavers! Kim Springer grounds out to 2nd.

Top of the Ninth:
P Bobby Johnson is at 125 pitches... The Bullpen is ready. Jose Naranjo lines an 0-2 pitch to left for a hit and P Johnson balks him to 2nd. 3B Kim Cusenza (33-R), who has only had 73 AB in his carer, but is a .329 hitter, grounds a 3-2 pitch to right for a hit. Tony Figueroa grounds out to 3rd and Naranjo scores. 7 to 1, Beavers. Call to the Bullpen: Jerry Switalski (23-R). He gets the last two outs and THIS Ball Game Belong to the Beavers!

Won - 7 to 1

We had 18 hits and made 1 error
Hollywood had 5 hits (3 in the 9th) and made no errors

Bobby Johnson (W 3-1) went 8.1 innings, allowed 1 run, 5 hits, 3 walks (in the 1st 3 innings) and struck out 6. He balked. 138 pitches. At bat, he had 3 hits.
RHP Jerry Switalski got the final two batter out with 1 strikeout.

Sam Henderson (L 2-3) went 6.2 innings, gave us 7 runs, 17 hits, 1 home run, no walks and struck out no one.

2B George Brock had a hit and a walk and an RBI. RF Enrique Ramos had 2 hits with his 6th home run of the season and 3 RBI. LF Kim Springer had 2 hits with a double and scored 2 runs. 1B Glenn Snowden had 3 hits and an RBI. C Tim Higbee had 2 hits and a walk and scored a run. 3B Jeff Galka had 2 hits and an RBI. CF Jerry Suazo had 2 hits, scored 2 runs and had an RBI.

Around the League: C Dave Kiehne (30-R) of Minnesota signed a 4 year extension today for $2 million per season. He is hitting .281 with 1 HR and 9 RBI in 64 AB. His career slash line is .268/.334/.421 with 55 HR. Pretty good money for someone who has never made the All-Star team.

[Questdog]

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Portland Beavers (14-6 .700 3 GA in 1st place in the PCL West) at
Hollywood Stars (11-9 .550 3 GB tied for 2nd place in the PCL West)

POR: John Krawczyk (26-L 2-1 3.46) vs HOL: Jeff Hunt (29-R 0-2 5.40) All-Star(02)

Krawczyk had a CG win, allowing 2 runs, his last time out.

Hunt was signed to a 1 year contract for $1.74 million at the end of March. He only got 1 start in Spring Training and has had a slow start to the season. He was 14-6 with a 3.59 ERA last year for the Orioles. In his last start, he went 8 innings and allowed 4 runs in a no decision.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
PORTLAND
1: 2B George Brock (24-L .316-79-0-8-.774 102)
2: RF Enrique Ramos (26-L .284-67-6-16-.906 73) 3-time All-Star(02-04)/Silver Slugger(CF-03)/RoY(01)/Gold Glove(LF-01)
3: LF Kim Springer (24-L .351-77-3-13-.971 58)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (28-R .303-66-7-14-1.078 62) 3-time Silver Slugger(02-04)/4-time All-Star/Gold Glove(01)
5: C Tim Higbee (22-S .303-66-2-10-.865 55) All-Star/Gold Glove
6: 3B Jeff Galka (36-R .288-66-4-12-.873 58)
7: SS Darrell Grigg (23-L .193-57-0-2-.451 114) Rookie
8: CF Jerry Suazo (30-L .281-64-3-9-.832 71)
9: P John Krawczyk (26-L .100-10-0-0-.300 1)

HOLLYWOOD
1: 2B Don Petty (23-R .353-17-1-5-.958 70) Rookie
2: SS Jerry Hatcher (28-R .318-66-3-10-.914 97)
3: 1B Gus McCollum (33-R .380-71-0-12-.928 80)
4: LF Jose Naranjo (31-R .278-72-1-11-.689 75) 3-time All-Star(01-03)
5: 3B Larry Church (30-L .246-69-0-11-.604 54)
6: RF Chuck Tate (26-L .167-12-0-1-.542 61) Rookie
7: CF Fran Beck (23-S .000-10-0-1-.167 94) Rookie
8: C Darryl Swaney (29-L .250-32-1-3-.734 73)
9: P Jeff Hunt (29-R .143-7-0-0-.286 40) All-Star(02)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Gilmore Stadium
Weather: 68 F, Clear Skies, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to center
Attendance: 19,268

Top of the First:
George Brock grounds out to 1st, unassisted. Enrique Ramos swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 2nd. Kim Springer swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 2nd...

Bottom of the First:
Don Petty swings at the first pitch and flies out to right. Jerry Hatcher strikes out on three pitches! Gus McCollum lines a hit to right. He steals 2nd. Jose Naranjo loops a hit to right and McCollum scores without a throw... 1 to 0, Stars. Larry Church pops out to left.

Bottom of the Second:
Chuck Tate leads off with a home run to right center... The first of his career. 2 to 0, Stars.

Bottom of the Third:
With 1 out, Gus McCollum triples to the right field corner... Jose Naranjo swings at an 0-2 pitch and gets jammed, but muscles a hit over the infield to left and McCollum scores... 3 to 0, Stars. Larry Church grounds into a 4-6-3 double play.

Top of the Fourth:
Kim Springer grounds a hit up the middle and Fran Beck overruns the ball for an error and Springer is on 2nd. But the next three make outs...

Bottom of the Fifth:
Don Petty grounds a hit to right. Jerry Hatcher bunts him to 2nd. Gus McCollum lines a hit to right and Petty beats the throw home. 4 to 0, Stars. Jose Naranjo grounds a hit up the middle... McCollum and Naranjo are a combined 6 for 6... The Bullpen is up. Larry Church walks on 4 pitches to load the bases up with 1 out. With the infield in, Chuck Tate grounds into a force at home, 4-2. Frank Beck grounds out to short.

Top of the Eighth:
With 1 out, Enrique Ramos lines a hit to left. Kim Springer bounces one back to the box, but P Jeff Hunt makes an errant throw to 2nd. Glenn Snowden swings at the first pitch and doubles to center and Ramos scores! 4 to 1, Stars. Tim Higbee grounds out to short and Springer scores. 4 to 2, Stars. Snowden is still at 2nd. Jeff Galka swings at the first pitch and doubles to left center and Snowden scores! 4 to 3, Stars. Darrell Grigg grounds out to 3rd...

Top of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Javier Fernandez (25-R), their All-Star closer who was robbed of the Fireman's Trophy last year by our own Leonardo Sanchez. He had 46 Saves and a 1.00 ERA last year. This year, he is even better with 7 Saves and an 0.79 ERA... 8-9-1 up for us. Jerry Suazo grounds out to 1st, unassisted. PH A.J. Lee (25-R) strikes out... George Brock lines a hit to left. Enrique Ramos strikes out...

Lost - 4 to 3

We had 9 hits and made 1 error
Hollywood had 10 hits and made 2 errors

John Krawczyk (L 2-2) went 5.2 innings, allowed 4 runs, 9 hits, 1 home run, 3 walks and struck out 2.
RHP Leonardo Sanchez faced 1 batter and got him out.
LHP Dave Briggs went 1.1 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit, 1 walk and struck out 1.
RHP Jimmy Taylor got 2 outs and walked 1 (INT)

Jeff Hunt (W 1-2) went 8 innings, gave us 3 runs (1 earned), 8 hits, 2 walks and struck out no one. At bat, he had a hit.
RHP Javier Fernandez (SV 8) pitched a scoreless 9th and gave us 1 hit and struck out 2.

LF Kim Springer had 2 hits and scored a run. 1B Glenn Snowden had 2 hits with his 1st double of the season, scored a run and had an RBI. 3B Jeff Galka had 2 hits with a double and an RBI. CF Jerry Suazo drew 2 walks.

For Hollywood, 1B Gus McCollum had 3 hits with a triple, stole a base, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. LF Jose Naranjo had 3 hits and 2 RBI.

[Questdog]

Friday, April 29, 2005

Yesterday was Barry Phillips' 22nd birthday!

We are in San Francisco to play the Seals a 3 game series over the weekend. They just split a par of games here with the Padres. We were 10-4 against them last year when they finished 65-97 in last place in the PCL West. We are 29-27 (.518) since 2001. With 2 former MVP's in their lineup, they are 16th (last) in the PCL in scoring with 3.14 runs per game (Portland is down to a tie for 2nd with 5.05). They have a team OPS of .607, worst in the League. Ours is .797, 2nd best to Denver (.818). The Seals are 12th in fewest runs allowed with 4.76 per game (Portland is up to #4 with 3.67). Their run differential is -34, the Worst in in the Majors, and ours is +29, now 2nd best in the Majors to the Twins (+31). On offense, the principal players are the same and they have made a lot of changes on their pitching staff, but it seems to be just changing out bad ones for new bad ones....

Portland Beavers (14-7 .667 2.5 GA in 1st place in the PCL West) at
San Francisco Seals (6-15 .286 8 GB in 8th (last) place in the PCL West)

POR: Barry Phillips (22-L 4-1 3.57) CY/All-Star/Gold Glove(03) vs SF: Duke McKenzie (27-R 2-2 3.21)

Phillips has won his last 3 starts. He gave up 8 hits and 3 runs last time out, but that was just good enough.

They claimed McKenzie off waivers from us just before Opening Day. He was 4-5 with 1 SV and a 5.01 ERA in 2002 and 2003 for the Beavers. His main problem is giving up a lot of HR. 9 in 79 IP as a Beaver and 3 in 28 IP as a Seal so far. He only gave up 2 runs in 6 IP last time out, but the Seals only scored 1 and he took a loss. We have never faced him.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
PORTLAND
1: 2B George Brock (24-L .310-84-0-8-.753 102)
2: RF Enrique Ramos (26-L .278-72-6-16-.871 73) 3-time All-Star(02-04)/Silver Slugger(CF-03)/RoY(01)/Gold Glove(LF-01)
3: LF Kim Springer (24-L .358-81-3-13-.972 58)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (28-R .314-70-7-15-1.087 62) 3-time Silver Slugger(02-04)/4-time All-Star/Gold Glove(01)
5: C Tim Higbee (22-S .286-70-2-11-.818 55) All-Star/Gold Glove
6: 3B Jeff Galka (36-R .300-70-4-13-.884 58)
7: SS Darrell Grigg (23-L .197-61-0-2-.454 114) Rookie
8: CF Jerry Suazo (30-L .273-66-3-9-.825 71)
9: P Barry Phillips (22-R .333-12-1-1-1.083 58) CY/All-Star/Gold Glove(03)

SAN FRANCISCO
1: SS Bill Webber (28-S .256-90-2-5-.639 63) 2-time Silver Slugger(2B-01,SS-03)/All-Star(03)
2: RF Jerry Serrano (31-R .250-88-1-5-.608 88) Gold Glove(02)
3: CF Clay Laurence (25-R .274-84-2-5-.758 54) 4-time Silver Slugger(RF-01;CF-02,04;LF-03)/4-time All-Star/MVP(03)/2-time Gold Glove(RF-01,LF-03)
4: LF Dave McDowell (34-R .271-70-3-17-.819 76) 3-time All-Star(01-03)/2-time MVP(01-02)/Silver Slugger(02)
5: 1B Dick Long (21-R .379-29-0-2-.931 96) Rookie 1st overall Pick this year #3 prospect
6: 3B Brian Dube (31-R .153-72-0-6-.426 73) Hit .281 last year
7: C Bruce Jump (36-R .138-65-0-2-.346 35) 50 Career HR with a .231 BA
8: 2B Lenny Lowe (24-R .186-59-0-3-.527 86) Rookie 2nd round pick this year
9: P Duke McKenzie (27-R .000-10-0-0-.000 56) ex-Beaver

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Candlestick Park
Weather: 51 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 11 MPH wind blowing out to left
Attendance: 20,831

Top of the First:
George Brock lines one to 3rd, but Brian Dube has the ball hit off the heel of his glove for an error. Enrique Ramos grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4. Kim Springer draws a walk. Glenn Snowden bloops a hit to right center and the bases are loaded with 1 out. It would be a good time now for P Duke McKenzie's home run bugaboo to show itself... Instead, he balks home a run! 1 to 0, Beavers! A wild pitch scores Springer! 2 to 0, Beavers! Tim Higbee strikes out... Jeff Galka flies out to left.

Bottom of the First:
Bill Webber lines out to 2nd. Jerry Serrano lines a double down the left field line... This would not be a good time for the Seals to correct their offensive woes.... Clay Laurence, the 2003 MVP, strikes out! Dave McDowell, the 2001 and 2002 MVP, swings at the first pitch and grounds out to short!

Bottom of the Third:
P Duke McKenzie grounds his first hit of the year to left. With 1 out, Jerry Serrano hits another double, this one down the right field line... Clay Laurence takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with 1 out. Dave McDowell flies out to deep center and P McKenzie trots home and Serrano goes to 3rd. 2 to 1, Beavers. Dick Long grounds out to short!

Bottom of the Fourth:
With 1 out, Bruce Jump, who came into the game batting .136, doubles to right for his 2nd hit of the game. Lenny Lowe, also batting under .200, doubles down the right field line and Jump scores... Tie Game: 2 to 2. With 2 outs, a wild pitch sends Lowe to 3rd. Bill Webber grounds what looks like a sure hit up the middle, but George Brock makes a diving stop and throws Webber out at 1st!

Meanwhile, after getting some action in the first inning off P Duke McKenzie, we have gone silent and only have 2 hits through 7 innings...

Top of the Eighth:
New Pitcher: Danny Gonzalez (26-L), a rookie with a 2.25 ERA in 4 IP with 1 walk and 7 SO. He was the Seals' 5th round pick this year. George Brock walks on 4 pitches. PH Leon Davis (23-R) lines a hit over the 2nd baseman. Kim Springer lines a hit to left and the bases are loaded with no outs. Glenn Snowden, who eats lefties for snacks, tries to check his swing on a 3-2 pitch but gets rung up... Tim Higbee pops out to right and the runners hold.... Jeff Galka walks on 4 pitches to force in a run! 3 to 2, Beavers! PH Dave Risinger (29-R) grounds a hit to right and 2 runs score!! 5 to 2, Beavers! PH A.J. Lee (25-R) is sent up. They change pitchers... New Pitcher: Ron Fisher (27-R), who has not allowed a run in 6 IP and only 2 H and 1 walk and 6 SO. Lee is pulled down. PH Steve Hermanson (27-S) takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with 2 outs. PH Jay Kerksieck (27-R) grounds out to the pitcher... Kim Springer goes to see Trudy the Trainer and she says he is done for today... That leaves us in a bit of a bind as we only have 8 players eligible now to play in the game... And only 2 of them are outfielders and 2 of them are catchers only and 2 of them are 1st baseman only.... Steve Hermanson will be the one playing out of position on left field...

Bottom of the Ninth:
On the Hill: Rich Larkin (25-R), after a scoreless, but barely, 8th. With 1 out, PH Ed Paul (30-S), a free agent from Philadelphia batting .381 in 42 AB. grounds a double over the 3rd base bag. The Bullpen gets up. Bill Webber grounds a hit to right. Jerry Serrano lines a hit to left and Paul scores... 5 to 3, Beavers. Clay Laurence grounds one to 2nd, and George Brock boots it... His 4th error of the season... The bases are loaded with 1 out... One more batter for P Larkin... Dave McDowell grounds into a 6-4-3 double play and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Beavers!

Won - 5 to 3

We had 6 hits (all singles) and made 1 error
San Francisco had 12 hits and made 1 error

Barry Phillips (W 5-1) went 7 innings, allowed 2 runs, 6 hits, 1 walk, 1 HBP and struck out 6. He threw a WP. 111 pitches. At bat, he had a hit.
RHP Rich Larkin (SV 4) went 2 innings, allowed 1 run, 6 hits and struck out 2.

Duke McKenzie went 7 innings, gave us 2 runs, 2 hits, 4 walks and struck out 4. He threw a WP and balked. At bat, he had a hit and scored a run.
LHP Danny Gonzalez (L 0-1) got 2 outs, gave us 3 runs, 3 hits, 2 walks and struck out 1.

2B George Brock drew 2 walks and scored a run. PH/RF Leon Davis had a hit and scored a run. LF Kim Springer had a hit and a walk and scored 2 runs. 1B Glenn Snowden had 2 hits and a walk. PH/SS Dave Risinger had a hit and 2 RBI. PH/LF Steve Hermanson drew a walk.

For San Francisco, RF Jerry Serrano had 3 hits with 2 doubles and an RBI.

Trudy's report on Kim Springer is back spasms that she expects to bother him for a couple of days.

[Questdog]

Saturday, April 30, 2005

Portland Beavers (15-7 .682 3.5 GA in 1st place in the PCL West) at
San Francisco Seals (6-16 .273 9 GB in 8th (last) place in the PCL West)

POR: Ron Marling (24-R 1-0 2.84) vs SF: Jim Haulk (32-R 1-0 8.68) Gold Glove(02)

Marling gave up 2 runs in 6 IP last time out to get his first decision of the season in 4 starts.

Haulk was released by Denver on April 22. On April 25, the Angels signed him, but changed their mind before they went to sleep and released him. The Seals signed him on April 27. He is making his debut for San Francisco today. Only for Denver could you be 1-0 in 2 starts with an 8.68 ERA. His last start in the Majors was on the 13th and he gave up 5 runs in 3.1 IP in a no decision. To be fair to him, both of his starts were in Denver. He did not pitch in the Majors last year. In 2003, he had 1 start for St. Louis and won it, giving up 1 run in 8 IP. In 2002, he was 9-11 with a 3.96 ERA in 26 starts for the Cardinals as a 29 year old rookie when he won his Gold Glove. We have never faced him.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
PORTLAND
1: 2B George Brock (24-L .299-87-0-8-.742 102)
2: CF Jerry Suazo (30-L .265-68-3-9-.810 71)
3: C Tim Higbee (22-S .267-75-2-11-.765 55) All-Star/Gold Glove
4: LF Enrique Ramos (26-L .267-75-6-16-.837 81) 3-time All-Star(02-04)/Silver Slugger(CF-03)/RoY(01)/Gold Glove(LF-01)
5: 3B Jeff Galka (36-R .288-73-4-14-.866 58)
6: RF Leon Davis (23-R .158-19-0-0-.316 83) Rookie
7: 1B Steve Hermanson (27-S .071-14-0-2-.349 74)
8: SS Darrell Grigg (23-L .190-63-0-2-.451 114) Rookie
9: P Ron Marling (24-R .400-5-0-0-.800 17)

SAN FRANCISCO
1: SS Bill Webber (28-S .253-95-2-5-.627 63) 2-time Silver Slugger(2B-01,SS-03)/All-Star(03)
2: RF Jerry Serrano (31-R .269-93-1-6-.661 88) Gold Glove(02)
3: CF Clay Laurence (25-R .273-88-2-5-.754 54) 4-time Silver Slugger(RF-01;CF-02,04;LF-03)/4-time All-Star/MVP(03)/2-time Gold Glove(RF-01,LF-03)
4: LF Dave McDowell (34-R .257-74-3-18-.773 76) 3-time All-Star(01-03)/2-time MVP(01-02)/Silver Slugger(02)
5: 1B Dick Long (21-R .364-33-0-2-.879 96) Rookie
6: 3B Brian Dube (31-R .158-76-0-6-.430 73)
7: C Bruce Jump (36-R .159-69-0-2-.397 35)
8: 2B Lenny Lowe (24-R .194-62-0-4-.559 86) Rookie
9: P Jim Haulk (32-S .000-2-0-0-.000 24) Gold Glove(02)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Candlestick Park
Weather: 68 F, Clear Skies, with a 10 MPH wind blowing in from left
Attendance: 22,603

Top of the First:
George Brock squibs one and is out, 2-3. Jerry Suazo grounds out to 2nd. Tim Higbee strikes out...

Bottom of the First:
Bill Webber grounds out to the pitcher. Jerry Serrano flies out to deep center. Clay Laurence flies out to very deep center, on the warning track! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the Third:
Lenny Lowe gets beaned to lead off the inning. P Jim Haulk bunts him to 2nd and P Ron Marling balks him to 3rd... With the infield in, Bill Webber swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds one through the right side for a hit and Lowe scores... 1 to 0, Seals. Jerry Serrano grounds into a 4-6-3 double play!

Top of the Fourth:
Tim Higbee doubles off the right field wall for our 2nd hit of the game. With 1 out, Jim Galka grounds a hit up the middle and Higbee beats the throw to the plate! Tie Game: 1 to 1. Leon Davis grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4. With 2 outs, Steve Hermanson hits a home run to right!! 3 to 1, Beavers! His first as a Beaver! Only his second hit as a Beaver, in fact!

Bottom of the Fourth:
Clay Laurence bloops a hit to right. With 2 outs, Brian Dube hits a home run to left... Tie Game: 3 to 3. His first home run of the season...

Top of the Sixth:
Leon Davis takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Steve Hermanson swings at the first pitch and beats out an infield hit. Darrell Grigg grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6, and Davis goes to 3rd. PH Kim Springer (24-L) is sent up. Grigg gets thrown out trying to steal... And they walk Springer intentionally... Thanks, Darrell.... Greg Brock clears the bases with a line shot off the wall in right and ends up with a triple!! 5 to 3, Beavers! That does it for P Jim Haulk. New Pitcher: Ron Fisher (27-R), who pitched 1.1 scoreless innings yesterday. Jerry Suazo strikes out looking....

Top of the Seventh:
Tim Higbee draws a walk. With 2 outs, Leon Davis lines a double off the wall in right and Higbee scores from 1st! 6 to 3, Beavers!

Won - 6 to 3

We had 9 hits and made no errors
San Francisco had 7 hits and made no errors

Ron Marling (W 2-0) went 5 innings, allowed 3 runs, 5 hits, 1 home run, no walks, 1 HBP and struck out 1. He balked.
RHP Leonardo Sanchez (H 2) went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 2 hits and struck out 4.
RHP Jimmy Taylor (SV 1) went 2 scoreless innings and hit a batter.

Jim Haulk (L 1-1) went 5.2 innings, gave us 5 runs, 8 hits, 1 home run, 4 walks and struck out 4.

2B George Brock had 2 hits with a triple and a walk and had 2 RBI. C Tim Higbee hit a double, drew 3 walks and scored 2 runs. RF Leon Davis hit a double, drew a walk, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. 1B Steve Hermanson had 2 hits with his 1st home run as a Beaver and had 2 RBI. SS Darrell Grigg had a hit and a walk and stole a base. PH Kim Springer was walked intentionally and scored a run.

Down on the Farm: Vancouver (A) outhit the Grizzlies in Fresno, 13 to 8, but lost, 7 to 2.

[Questdog]

Monthly Awards for April, 2005
NL Player of the Month: Dave White, 1b, Boston (28-L) .274/.425/.750 84 AB, 2 2B, 1 3B, 12 HR (!!), 22 BB, 11 SO, 1 SB, 0 CS, 22 R, 26 RBI in 24 G.
NL Pitcher of the Month: Carlos de Santiago, lhp, Brooklyn (24-L) 4-1 0.67 ERA 5 GS, 40.1 IP, 23 H, 1 HR, 11 BB, 25 SO
NL Rookie of the Month: Rick Bolton, rhp, Cleveland (24-R) 0-0 0.00 ERA 8 SV 9 G, 8.1 IP, 1 H, 0 HR, 5 BB, 10 SO

PCL Player of the Month: Joe Taylor, c, Denver (24-R) .432/.489/.642 81 AB, 5 2b, 0 3b, 4 HR, 10 BB, 11 SO, 1 SB, 0 CS, 20 R, 16 RBI in 23 G (20 GS)
PCL Pitcher of the Month: Don Bergdall, rhp, Salt Lake City (23-R) 5-1 0.98 ERA 6 GS, 46 IP, 39 H, 0 HR, 22 BB, 24 SO
PCL Rookie of the Month: Jeff Kolbe, rhp, San Antonio (22-R) 2-1 2.42 ERA 3 GS, 22.1 IP, 19 H, 1 HR, 5 BB, 15 SO

[Questdog]

Sunday, May 1, 2005

Portland Beavers (16-7 .696 3.5 GA in 1st place in the PCL West) at
San Francisco Seals (6-17 .261 10 GB in 8th (last) place in the PCL West)

POR: Bobby Johnson (26-R 3-1 2.80) vs SF: Gordy Albrecht (28-R 1-4 6.31)

Johnson has won his last 3 starts. Last time out, he went 8 innings and gave up 5 hits and 1 run.

Albrecht has lost his last 3 starts. He gave up 4 runs (3 earned) in 5 IP last time out. He was 8-11 with a 3.92 ERA in 30 starts last year. He was 0-1 in 2 starts against us last year and we had 18 hits in 10 IP.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
PORTLAND
1: 2B A.J. Lee (25-R .250-24-2-5-.838 93)
2: CF Jerry Suazo (30-L .247-73-3-9-.758 71)
3: LF Enrique Ramos (26-L .263-80-6-16-.810 81) 3-time All-Star(02-04)/Silver Slugger(CF-03)/RoY(01)/Gold Glove(LF-01)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (28-R .320-75-7-15-1.075 62) 3-time Silver Slugger(02-04)/4-time All-Star/Gold Glove(01)
5: C Tim Higbee (22-S .273-77-2-11-.807 55) All-Star/Gold Glove
6: 3B Jeff Galka (36-R .282-78-4-15-.837 58)
7: RF Leon Davis (23-R .174-23-0-1-.426 83) Rookie
8: SS Darrell Grigg (23-L .197-66-0-2-.471 114) Rookie
9: P Bobby Johnson (26-R .417-12-0-0-.917 1)

SAN FRANCISCO
1: SS Bill Webber (28-S .253-99-2-6-.622 63) 2-time Silver Slugger(2B-01,SS-03)/All-Star(03)
2: RF Jerry Serrano (31-R .258-97-1-6-.634 88) Gold Glove(02)
3: CF Clay Laurence (25-R .272-92-2-5-.743 54) 4-time Silver Slugger(RF-01;CF-02,04;LF-03)/4-time All-Star/MVP(03)/2-time Gold Glove(RF-01,LF-03)
4: LF Dave McDowell (34-R .244-78-3-18-.736 74) 3-time All-Star(01-03)/2-time MVP(01-02)/Silver Slugger(02)
5: 1B Dick Long (21-R .378-37-0-2-.919 96) Rookie
6: 3B Brian Dube (31-R .175-80-1-8-.494 73)
7: C Bruce Jump (36-R .153-72-0-2-.392 33)
8: 2B Lenny Lowe (24-R .200-65-0-4-.573 86) Rookie
9: P Gordy Albrecht (28-S .000-6-0-0-.000 1)

Game Start: 1:05 PM
Ballpark: Candlestick Park
Weather: 63 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 10 MPH wind blowing in from center
Attendance: 20,076

Top of the First:
A.J. Lee grounds out to 3rd. Jerry Suazo grounds out to 1st, 3-1. Enrique Ramos swings at the first pitch and grounds out to short...

Bottom of the First:
Bill Webber grounds out to 2nd. Jerry Serrano flies out to deep center. Clay Laurence swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 3rd! 1-2-3!

Top of the Third:
Darrell Grigg grounds one to short, but Bill Webber throws the ball away for a 2 base error. P Bobby Johnson bunts Grigg to 3rd. A.J. Lee lines one to deep center and Clay Laurence makes a running catch, but Grigg tags up and trots home. 1 to 0, Beavers and we have yet to get a hit...

Top of the Sixth:
We double our team hit total when A.J. Lee and Jerry Suazo lead off with back to back hits. Enrique Ramos lines a hit to center and Lee heads home... I told the 3rd base coach to not send him anymore, because he is always getting thrown out.... But he is safe this time! 2 to 0, Beavers! Glenn Snowden walks on 4 pitches to load the bases up with no outs for Tim Higbee, who struck out his first two times up. This time he walks to force in a run! 3 to 0, Beavers! Jeff Galka lines one to deep right, but Jerry Serrano makes a great catch and Ramos trots home and Snowden goes to 3rd. 4 to 0, Beavers! Leon Davis grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4, and Snowden scores. 5 to 0, Beavers! That does it for P Gordy Albrecht. new Pitcher: John Wagner (24-R), a rookie with a 1.50 ERA in 6 IP with no walks and 4 SO, but 7 hits and 1 HR. Darrell Grigg strikes out...

Won - 5 to 0

Sweep!

We had 6 hits (all singles) and made 1 error
San Francisco had 3 hits and made 1 error

Bobby Johnson (W 4-1) went 9 shutout innings (CG), allowed 3 hits, no walks, 1 HBP and struck out 3. 101 pitches. At bat, he had a hit. It is his 1st shutout of the season and the 13th of his career. He has had 3 every season like clockwork.

Gordy Albrecht (L 1-5) went 5.2 innings, gave us 5 runs (4 earned), 5 hits, 3 walks and struck out 3.

2B A.J. Lee had a hit, scored a run and had an RBI. CF Jerry Suazo had a hit and a walk and scored a run. LF Enrique Ramos had 2 hits, scored a run and had an RBI. 1B Glenn Snowden drew 2 walks and scored a run.

Down on the Farm: Elmer Douglass (23-R) pitched an 11 inning shutout for Vancouver (A) at Fresno. He allowed 3 hits, 1 walk and struck out 5. 125 pitches thrown. He is now 4-1 with a 1.76 ERA in 5 starts. He was our 5th round pick in the 2004 B Leagues Draft and is not much of a prospect. He has only struck out 11 in 41 IP and has allowed 3 HR, which is too many in A Ball.

[Questdog]

May 2, 2005

Monday Morning Report
NL Player of the Week - Fernando Mexicano, LF, Cleveland (24-L .308/.404/.462) Had 12 hits with 1 2B, 2 HR, 5 BB, 2 SO, 1 SB, 0 CS, 6 R and 11 RBI in 6 G (2nd career PoW; ex-Beaver)
PCL Player of the Week - Javy Puente, RF, Oakland (34-S .388/.438/.592) Had 14 hits with 5 2B, 2 BB, 2 SO, 2 SB, 0 CS, 2 R and 6 RBI in 6 G (2nd PoW this season; 4th career)

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

April 25 - Dave Little (23-L) of Pittsburgh pitched a 5 hit shutout at home versus St. Louis. He walked 1 and struck out 3. At bat, he had a hit and scored a run. It is his 2nd shutout of the season and the 8th of his career. He is now 2-2 with a 2.52 ERA in 5 starts. The Pirates won, 4 to 0.
April 26 - Graham Pethel (28-R) of New York pitched a 3 hit shutout at Brooklyn. He walked 2 and struck out 5. It is his 2nd shutout in a row and the 14th of his career. He is now 3-1 with a 1.69 ERA in 5 starts. The Giants won, 1 to 0, and only had 5 hits themselves.
April 26 - Manny Lopez (32-R) of Atlanta pitched a 2 hit shutout at Chicago. He did not walk a batter and struck out 1. 96 pitches thrown. It is the 9th shutout of this career. He is now 2-1 with a 2.17 ERA in 5 starts. The Crackers won, 3 to 0.
April 27 - RF Tommy Gibralter (26-L) of Houston had 3 hits with a double and a home run and 5 RBI at Denver. The Astros won, 11 to 4.
April 29 - C Terry Bass (32-L) of Salt Lake City had 2 hits with a Grand Slam and a walk and 5 RBI at home versus Milwaukee. The Bees won, 11 to 1.
April 29 - C Dennis Allen (30-R) of St. Louis hit 3 doubles, scored a run and had 5 RBI at Cincinnati. The Cardinal won, 10 to 5.
April 29 - 3B Ruben Campos (31-R) of Toronto went 4 for 4 with 2 home runs, and 4 RBI at Philadelphia. The Blue Jays won, 5 to 3.
April 30 - 3B Eric Hansen (28-R) of San Diego had 3 hits with a home run, scored 2 runs and had 5 RBI at Seattle. The Padres won, 12 to 2.
April 30 - Rookie Bruce Horne (22-R) of Sacramento pitched a 4 hit shutout at Hollywood. He walked 5 and struck out 4. At bat, he had his 1st career hit. It is the 1st shutout of his career. He is now 1-1 with a 1.67 ERA in 4 starts. The Solons won, 5 to 0.
April 30 - Toronto won at Philadelphia, 2 to 1, in 22 innings. The last run scored before the 22nd was in the 4th. 2B Dick Parrish (26-S) of Toronto went 0 for 9 in the game.n The Phillies led off the bottom of the 22nd with a double, but could not score.
April 30 - 3B Harvey Sanberg (26-R) of Boston went 4 for 4 with a double and a home run and 4 RBI at home versus New York. The Braves won, 4 to 2.
May 1 - 1B Paul Tomlinson (27-L) of Toronto hit 2 home runs, drew a walk and had 5 RBI at Philadelphia. The Blue Jays won, 8 to 3.
May 1 - Jose Palacios (27-R) of Montreal pitched a 2 hit shutout at Washington in the 2nd game of a doubleheader. He walked 6 and struck out 3. 134 pitches thrown. At bat, he had 3 hits with a double and scored a run. It is the 2nd shutout of his career. He is now 1-1 with a 2.91 ERA in 3 starts. The Expos won, 4 to 0.

[Questdog]

Monday, May 2, 2005

Trade #61
05/02/05 CF Esteban Mondolfo (33-R) to Houston for RF Roberto Damas (33-R)

We need someone to play against lefties as Leon Davis does not seem to be ready for the Majors yet.

Trade #62
SS Johnny Centeno (21-R) to New York for CF Vern Hagner (23-R)

Centeno was our 5th round pick in this year's B League's Draft. He's a great fielder who will probably never hit much.

Hagner looks more ready for the Majors than Jayson Pemberton. Vern's big minus is that he strikes out quite a bit, but he will take a walk, while Pemberton won't. He's not the fielder Pemberton is, but he is very good. His big plus is his name... Gotta love anyone named Vern... There just are not any great center fielders. There is only one in the Majors that I really like and that is Gerry Hawkins (25-L) of Chicago. To get him would take Cy Young winner Barry Phillips. I would be more than willing to make the trade, except Hawkins cannot hit lefties very well and I am not trading a Cy Young Award winner for a platoon player...

SS Darrell Grigg (23-L), CF Jayson Pemberton (21-R) and RF Leon Davis (23-R) were all sent back to Vancouver (A). SS Dave Maynard (22-R) was called up to get a trial as the starting shortstop. He is hitting .363 for the Mounties and only made 1 error in 23 games. He is every bit the fielder that Grigg is, but does not have the cannon arm. But Grigg has made 5 errors and is not hitting...

We are back home to play the Angels a 2 game set. They won 3 of 4 in Los Angeles against the Oakland Oaks over the weekend. We swept them in 3 games here, April 15-17, outscoring them 21-8. They are 7th in the PCL in scoring with 4.16 runs per game (Portland is tied for #1 with 5.08). The Angels are 14th in fewest runs allowed with 4.84 per game (Portland is #4 with 3.46). Their run differential is -17 and ours is +39, 1 behind Minnesota for the Best in Baseball.

Los Angeles Angels (11-14 .440 6.5 GB tied for 6th place in the PCL West) at
Portland Beavers (17-7 .708 3.5 GA in 1st place in the PCL West)

LA: Preston Rogers (28-R 0-4 8.87) vs POR: John Krawczyk (26-L 2-2 3.98)

Rogers was signed as a free agent after he was non-tendered by San Antonio. He was 5-18 with a 4.19 ERA in 32 starts for the Missions last year, but 16-8 with a 3.59 ERA in 2003. In 23.1 IP this year, he has allowed 35 H, 7 HR, 11 BB and 10 SO. He pitched well in his last start, though, going 7.1 innings and allowing 3 runs and no HR, but took a loss anyway. He was 1-1 against us last year. In the win, he held us scoreless in 9.1 IP with only 5 hits...

Krawczyk gave up 9 hits and 3 walks and 4 runs in 5.2 IP last time out and took a loss.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
LOS ANGELES
1: RF Don Brockett (24-L .200-75-1-4-.548 67)
2: 3B Mike McGhee (27-R .212-80-4-10-.684 48) 12 R/1 2B
3: 1B Tony Pena (37-R .283-92-9-18-.939 40) 2-time All-Star(01,03) 15 R
4: C Charlie Allen (33-S .293-82-5-12-.876 74) 3-time All-Star(01,03-04)/Gold Glove(02) 2 2B
5: LF Vinny Negrete (25-L .325-80-2-7-.901 74) 14 R/14 BB/8 SO
6: SS Alex Garrido (28-L .226-93-0-12-.538 83) All-Star 6 R/8 SO
7: CF Rodolfo Rosado (28-R .301-93-1-9-.763 67) 6 BB/9 SO
8: 2B Pat Richmond (31-R .295-61-1-8-.788 82) Gold Glove(03) 9 BB
9: P Preston Rogers (28-R .125-8-0-0-.250 1)

PORTLAND
1: 2B George Brock (24-L .308-91-0-10-.780 101)
2: RF Enrique Ramos (26-L .274-84-6-17-.819 73) 3-time All-Star(02-04)/Silver Slugger(CF-03)/RoY(01)/Gold Glove(LF-01)
3: LF Kim Springer (24-L .357-84-3-13-.974 57)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (28-R .312-77-7-15-1.061 62) 3-time Silver Slugger(02-04)/4-time All-Star/Gold Glove(01)
5: C Tim Higbee (22-S .263-80-2-12-.785 55) All-Star/Gold Glove
6: CF Jerry Suazo (30-L .250-76-3-9-.762 71)
7: 3B A.J. Lee (25-R .250-28-2-6-.781 92)
8: SS Dave Maynard (22-R Major League debut 103) Rookie
9: P John Krawczyk (26-L .091-11-0-0-.273 1)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Metropolitan Stadium
Weather: 55 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 15 MPH wind blowing in from center
Attendance: 19,009

Top of the First:
Don Brockett takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... Mike McGhee grounds out to 3rd and Brockett goes to 2nd. Tony Pena walks on 4 pitches... Charlie Allen walks on 4 pitches to load the bases up with 1 out... Vinny Negrete strikes out! Alex Garrido swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 1st, unassisted!

Bottom of the First:
George Brock swings at the first pitch and flies out to center. Enrique Ramos strikes out... 8.87 ERA, guys... Kim Springer lines a hit to center. Glenn Snowden fouls out to 3rd...

Top of the Second:
With 1 out, Pat Richmond draws the 4th walk of the game for the Angels... P Preston Rogers bunts him to 2nd. With 2 outs, Don Brockett gets beaned with a 1-2 pitch... P John Krawczyk balks the runners up and then throws a wild pitch to score Richmond... 1 to 0, Angels. Mike McGhee takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... P Krawczyk had shown great control before today.... 5 walks and a HBP already... But his no-hitter is still intact... Tony Pena flies out to right!

Bottom of the Second:
Tim Higbee walks on 4 pitches. With 1 out, A.J. Lee walks on 4 pitches. Dave Maynard, in his first Major League AB, grounds out slowly to 3rd and the runners advance. P John Krawczyk grounds out to 3rd.

Bottom of the Third:
George Brock leads off with a walk and goes to 2nd on a wild pitch. Enrique Ramos grounds a hit to left. Kim Springer swings at the first pitch and flies out to deep left and Brock tags up and scores. Tie Game: 1 to 1. Glenn Snowden doubles to right center. Tim Higbee lines a hit to center and Ramos scores! 2 to 1, Beavers! Jerry Suazo flies out to deep left and Snowden tags up and scores. 3 to 1, Beavers!

Top of the Fifth:
Tony Pena leads off with a home run to left... 3 to 2, Beavers. That gives him 10 already on the season. Charlie Allen takes a 3-2 pitch for walk #6... The Bullpen is up. Vinny Negrete grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4. Alex Garrido doubles over the center fielder's head... Call to the Bullpen: Leonardo Sanchez (25-R). Rodolfo Rosado swings at the first pitch and hits a home run to left... 5 to 3, Angels.

Bottom of the Fifth:
With 1 out, Kim Springer doubles off the center field wall and then goes to 3rd on a ground out. With 2 outs, Tim Higbee lines a hit to left and Springer scores! 5 to 4, Angels. Jerry Suazo bloops a hit to left. A.J. Lee takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with 2 outs. Dave Maynard grounds out to 3rd...

Bottom of the Seventh:
Kim Springer leads off with a 436 ft. blast to center! Tie Game: 5 to 5. That does it for P Preston Rogers. New Pitcher: Alex Marik (37-R), with a 9.00 ERA and 20 H in 10 IP. With 2 outs, Jerry Suazo bloops a hit to left. A.J. Lee swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to short...

Top of the Ninth:
On the Hill: Rich Larkin (25-R), after a scoreless 8th. 2-3-4 up for the Angels. Mike McGhee lines a 1-2 pitch over the 2nd baseman for a hit... Tony Pena grounds into a 6-4-3 double play! Charlie Allen swings at the first pitch and pops out to left!

Bottom of the Ninth:
On the Hill: Gary Cullum (26-R), a rookie, after a scoreless 8th. 2-3-4 up for us. Enrique Ramos swings at the first pitch and lines a hit to right. Pinch-runner: Dave Risinger (29-R). He takes off on a 2-2 pitch and Kim Springer strikes out, but Risinger is safe at 2nd. They walk Glenn Snowden intentionally. Risinger gets caught stealing 3rd.... Why are we stealing 3rd?? Tim Higbee swings at a 3-2 pitch and pokes a little hit to center and Snowden goes to 3rd... That would have won the game if Risinger would have just stayed put.... Jerry Suazo swings at the first pitch and grounds out to the pitcher...

Extras!

Only the second time this season.
We lost the first one...

Top of the Tenth:
Roberto Damas (33-R) makes his Beaver debut in right. With 1 out, Alex Garrido lines a hit to left. He steals 2nd. Rodolfo Rosado grounds one to the hole on the right side, but George Brock makes an amazing play and throws him out at 1st! Garrido goes to 3rd. Pat Richmond takes a 3-2 pitch for strike three!

Bottom of the Tenth:
New Pitcher: Garry Ayers (32-R), their closer and an ex-Beaver. He has a 2.70 ERA in 10 IP, but 7 SV, only 5 hits and 2 walks and 12 SO. The reason he is not a Beaver any more is because his career BB/9 is 5.7, but he had a great year as Brooklyn's closer last season with 32 Saves. PH Jay Kerksieck (27-R) flies out to deep left center. Dave Maynard lines his first Major League hit to right! 3B Jeff Galka (36-R) strikes out... Maynard steals 2nd! They walk George Brock intentionally to pitch to Roberto Damas, in his Beaver debut. He was not acquired to face right-handers.... He swings at an 0-2 pitch and grounds a hit up the middle and Maynard heads home.....Safe! And THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Beavers! Two fellows making their Beaver debuts win the game for us! That's the way to debut!

Won - 6 to 5

We had 13 hits and made no errors
Los Angeles had 8 hits and made no errors

John Krawczyk went 4.1 innings, allowed 4 runs, 4 hits, 1 home run, 6 walks, 1 HBP and struck out 2. He threw a WP and balked. 99 pitches. About as ugly a game as you can get... David Cruz (24-R) starts a rehab assignment at Vancouver (A) tomorrow...
RHP Leonardo Sanchez (BS 1) went 1.2 innings, allowed 1 run, 1 hit, a home run and struck out 1.
LHP Steve Stewart pitched a perfect inning and struck out 1.
RHP Rich Larkin (W 3-1) went 3 scoreless innings, allowed 3 hits and struck out 1.

Preston Rogers went 6+ innings, gave us 5 runs, 8 hits, 1 home run, 4 walks, 1 HBP and struck out 2. He threw a WP. At bat, he had a hit.
RHP Garry Ayers (L 0-2) got 2 outs, gave us 1 run, 2 hits, 1 walk (INT) and struck out 1.

2B George Brock drew 2 walks and scored a run. RF Enrique Ramos had 2 hits and scored a run. PR Dave Risinger stole a base, but then got caught... RF Roberto Damas, in his Beaver debut, won the game with a base hit and an RBI in his only AB. LF Kim Springer had 3 hits with a double and his 4th home run of the season, scored 2 runs and had 2 RBI. 1B Glenn Snowden hit a double, drew a walk and scored a run. C Tim Higbee had 3 hits and 2 RBI. CF Jerry Suazo had 2 hits and an RBI. 3B A.J. Lee drew 2 walks. SS Dave Maynard, in his Major League debut, went 1 for 5, stole a base and scored the winning run.

For Los Angeles, SS Alex Garrido had 3 hits with a double and scored a run. CF Rodolfo Rosado had 2 hits with his 2nd home run and 3 RBI.

[Questdog]

Tuesday, May 3, 2005

Los Angeles Angels (11-15 .423 7.5 GB in 7th place in the PCL West) at
Portland Beavers (18-7 .720 4.5 GA in 1st place in the PCL West)

LA: Tony Floyd (29-R 2-2 4.30) vs POR: Rick Webber (23-R 1-1 2.45)

Floyd gave up 5 runs in 3.2 IP last time out for a loss. We faced him in April right here in Portland and beat him scoring 6 runs (4 earned) in 5.1 IP.

Webber has not started since April 16, 2 and a half weeks ago. He gave up 1 run in 5.2 IP then for a win. He pitched 1 game in relief 10 days ago and got 2 outs, but walked 2 and gave up a hit, but no runs.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
LOS ANGELES
1: 2B Rick Bush (22-S .173-52-0-1-.457 94) Rookie
2: LF Vinny Negrete (25-L .306-85-2-7-.851 74)
3: 1B Tony Pena (37-R .281-96-10-19-.958 40) 2-time All-Star(01,03)
4: 3B Mike McGhee (27-R .214-84-4-10-.683 48)
5: SS Alex Garrido (28-L .245-98-0-12-.581 83) All-Star
6: RF Fernando Vargas (28-L .143-14-0-3-.414 67)
7: CF Rodolfo Rosado (28-R .306-98-2-12-.795 67)
8: C Tony Hewitt (31-R .071-14-0-0-.205 58)
9: P Tony Floyd (29-R .273-11-0-0-.545 34)

PORTLAND
1: 2B George Brock (24-L .298-94-0-10-.774 101)
2: RF Enrique Ramos (26-L .281-89-6-17-.817 73) 3-time All-Star(02-04)/Silver Slugger(CF-03)/RoY(01)/Gold Glove(LF-01)
3: LF Kim Springer (24-L .375-88-4-15-1.038 57)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (28-R .309-81-7-15-1.053 62) 3-time Silver Slugger(02-04)/4-time All-Star/Gold Glove(01)
5: C Tim Higbee (22-S .286-84-2-14-.824 55) All-Star/Gold Glove
6: 3B Jeff Galka (36-R .265-83-4-16-.785 58)
7: SS Dave Maynard (22-R .200-5-0-0-.400 103) Rookie
8: CF Jerry Suazo (30-L .263-80-3-10-.769 71)
9: P Rick Webber (23-L .000-4-0-0-.000 1)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Metropolitan Stadium
Weather: 58 F, Clear Skies, with a 7 MPH wind blowing in from right
Attendance: 18,055

Top of the First:
Rick Bush grounds a hit up the middle... A passed ball sends him to 2nd... Vinny Negrete grounds out to 2nd and Bush goes to 3rd. Tony Pena swings at the first pitch and pops one up to 3rd, but the ball hits off the heel of Jeff Galka's glove and bounces away for an error and Bush scores... 1 to 0, Angels. Mike McGhee grounds into a 5-4-3 double play!

Bottom of the First:
George Brock grounds out to the pitcher... Enrique Ramos swings at the first pitch and fouls out to 3rd... Kim Springer, the hottest hitter on the team, lines a hit to right. Glenn Snowden hits a home run to left!! 2 to 1, Beavers! Tim Higbee draws a walk. Jeff Galka pops out to short.

Bottom of the Second:
Dave Maynard loops a hit to left center. With 1 out, P Rick Webber lays down a bunt and beats it out for a hit! Maynard steals 3rd. It's okay if you make it, but if you get caught, I will scold... George Brock grounds into a 4-6-3 double play....

Top of the Third:
With 1 out, Rick Bush, batting .173 coming into this game, beats out an infield hit, his second knock of the game.... He steals 2nd. Vinny Negrete swings at a 3-2 pitch and doubles to left and Bush scores... Tie Game: 2 to 2. A wild pitch sends Negrete to 3rd... Tony Pena takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... Mike McGhee lines a hit to left and Negrete scores... 3 to 2, Angels. The Bullpen is up. But the next two make out!

Bottom of the Third:
Enrique Ramos leads off with a double down the left field line. With 1 out, Glenn Snowden swings at the first pitch and lines a hit to right. Tim Higbee swings at the first pitch and pops out to left and the runners hold... Jeff Galka grounds out to short... We are wasting a lot of opportunities so far....

Top of the Fourth:
Rodolfo Rosado loops a hit to center. With 1 out, P Tony Floyd lays down a bunt and 1B Glenn Snowden throws the ball away at 1st for a 2 base error.... The Bullpen is up again. Rick Bush beats out another infield hit, his 3rd hit of the day, and Rosado scores... 4 to 2, Angels. Vinny Negrete lines a hit to left and P Floyd scores... 5 to 2, Angels. Call to the Bullpen: Jerry Switalski (23-R). Bush steals 3rd... Tony Pena takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with 1 out. Mike McGhee flies out to right and Bush tags up and scores. 6 to 2, Angels. Alex Garrido pops out to 2nd.

Bottom of the Sixth:
Jeff Galka swings at the first pitch and lines a double down the right field line. But the next three make outs...

Bottom of the Eighth:
New Pitcher: Duane Burton (24-L), with a 4.22 ERA in 10.2 IP. With 1 out, Jeff Galka grounds a hit to left. Dave Maynard lines a double to left. PH Dave Risinger (29-R) swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses... PH Jay Kerksieck (27-R) clears the bases with a double to center!! 6 to 4, Angels.

Top of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Jimmy Taylor (32-R). Dave Risinger stays in the game to play short and Dave Maynard moves to center. Vinny Negrete triples to right center... Tony Pena grounds a hit through the left side of the drawn in infield and Negrete scores... 7 to 4, Angels. Mike McGhee grounds a hit to center. The Bullpen is up. But the next three make outs.

Lost - 7 to 4

We had 11 hits and made 2 errors
Los Angeles had 13 hits and made no errors

Rick Webber (L 1-2) went 3.1 innings, allowed 6 runs (3 earned), 8 hits, 1 walk and struck out 2. He threw a WP. At bat, he beat out a bunt for a hit.
RHP Jerry Switalski got 2 outs and allowed a walk.
RHP Leonardo Sanchez went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit and struck out 2.
LHP Dave Briggs went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit and struck out 2.
RHP Jimmy Taylor went 1 inning, allowed 1 run, 3 hits and struck out 1.

Tony Floyd (W 3-2) went 6 innings, gave us 2 runs, 7 hits, 1 home run, 3 walks and struck out 2. At bat, he scored a run.

RF Enrique Ramos hit a double. PH Roberto Damas drew a walk. 1B Glenn Snowden had 2 hits with his 8th home run of the season, drew a walk and had 2 RBI. 3B Jeff Galka had 2 hits with a double and scored a run. SS/CF Dave Maynard had 2 hits with a double, stole a base and scored a run. PH Steve Hermanson drew a walk. PH Jay Kerksieck hit a double and had 2 RBI.

For Los Angeles, 2B Rick Bush had 3 hits, stole 2 bases and scored 3 runs. LF Vinny Negrete had 3 hits with a double and a triple, scored 2 runs and had 2 RBI.

[Questdog]

Thursday, May 5, 2005

The World Champion Minnesota Twins are in town to play a 4 game series through the weekend. They just lost a game at Dallas and the 2nd game of the set was rained out. We were 4-4 against them last year during the regular season and lost the PCL Championship Series to them in 7 games. We are 13-19 (.406) against them since 2001, tied for the worst record we have against any team (Dallas). They are 3rd in the PCL in scoring with 4.96 runs per game (Portland is #1 with 5.08). They are 3rd in the PCL in fewest runs allowed with 3.52 per game (Portland is #4 with 3.65). Their run differential is +36, 2nd best in Baseball to out +37. Besides trading for our 2-time 20 game winner SP Frank Flores (26-R), they traded for 14 game winner Oscar Rios (35-L), who won 19 games in 2003. They also signed NL MVP 1B Alex Urias (39-L), who hit 51 home runs last year. They lost no one of import, except possibly PCLCS MVP RF Dick Turner (29-R), who they traded for Rios, but Turner was a backup outfielder for them who was only playing due to an injury to Jeff Novotny (22-L). They are the favorites to repeat as World Champions, since they are obviously a better team this year than last.

Minnesota Twins (16-9 .640 1 GB in 2nd place in the PCL East) at
Portland Beavers (18-8 .692 3.5 GA in 1st place in the PCL West)

MIN: Frank Flores (26-R 5-1 3.83) All-Star vs POR: Barry Phillips (22-R 5-1 3.40) CY/All-Star/Gold Glove(03)

Flores, the ex-Beaver, pitched a CG last time out and has won 5 starts in a row after losing on Opening Day. He is their #1 starter. He is now 61-26 (.701) in his career.

Phillips has won 4 starts in a row. He gave up 2 runs in 7 IP with 1 BB and 6 SO last time out at San Francisco. He was 0-2 in the PCLCS against the Twins.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
MINNESOTA
1: 3B Larry Murphy (25-R .283-99-0-10-.721 87) Silver Slugger/All-Star 17 BB/6 SB
2: LF Jeff Novotny (22-L .373-75-2-13-.943 58) 13 R/4 2B
3: 1B Alex Urias (39-L .258-89-6-15-.847 90) MVP/2-time Silver Slugger(01,04)/2-time All-Star(01,04)/Gold Glove(01) 15 R/13 BB
4: CF Marco Manga (25-L .265-98-3-12-.739 57) 2-time All-Star(02-03) 19 R
5: C Dave Kiehne (30-R .262-84-1-12-.705 79) 14 R/5 2B
6: SS Dick Henry (27-S .356-90-0-12-.870 88) Silver Slugger/All-Star/Gold Glove 7 2B/5 SO
7: 2B Dave Macnaughton (32-R .291-86-1-11-.793 79) 3-time All-Star(02-04) 6 2B/2 3B/6 SO/5 SB
8: RF Larry Kelm (29-R .280-50-0-7-.745 79) 4 2B
9: P Frank Flores (26-R .316-19-0-7-.718 1) All-Star

PORTLAND
1: 2B George Brock (24-L .293-99-0-10-.756 101)
2: CF Jerry Suazo (30-L .253-83-3-10-.743 71)
3: LF Enrique Ramos (26-L .280-93-6-17-.815 81) 3-time All-Star(02-04)/Silver Slugger(CF-03)/RoY(01)/Gold Glove(LF-01)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (28-R .318-85-8-17-1.090 62) 3-time Silver Slugger(02-04)/4-time All-Star/Gold Glove(01)
5: C Tim Higbee (22-S .276-87-2-14-.803 55) All-Star/Gold Glove
6: 3B Jeff Galka (36-R .276-87-4-16-.806 58)
7: RF A.J. Lee (25-R .226-31-2-6-.749 75)
8: SS Dave Maynard (22-R .333-9-0-0-.778 103) Rookie
9: P Barry Phillips (22-R .333-15-1-1-1.000 58) CY/All-Star/Glod Glove(03)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Metropolitan Stadium
Weather: 58 F, Overcast, with a 9 MPH wind blowing in from right
Attendance: 16,291

Top of the First:
Larry Murphy swings at a 3-2 pitch and pops out to right. Jeff Novotny takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... Alex Urias grounds a hit to left. Marco Manga lines one hard to right and A.J. Lee makes a diving catch! Dave Kiehne grounds out to 3rd!

Bottom of the First:
It is kind of sad seeing Frank Flores out there in a Twins uniform.... George Brock, the player Flores was traded for, takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Jerry Suazo lines out to the pitcher and they double Brock off at 1st... Enrique Ramos swings at the first pitch and grounds out to short.

Bottom of the Second:
Glenn Snowden leads off with a walk and goes to 2nd on a wild pitch and to 3rd on a ground out. Jeff Galka drives one to deep center and Marco Manga races back and makes a leaping catch, but Snowden trots home. 1 to 0, Beavers!

Through 3 innings, we are being outhit, 3 to 0, but still lead on the scoreboard.

Bottom of the Fourth:
Enrique Ramos leads off by taking a 3-2 pitch for ball 4, our fourth walk already. Glenn Snowden comes through with our first hit, a home run to left!! 3 to 0, Beavers!

Top of the Fifth:
After A.J. Lee makes another amazing catch in right, Larry Kelm triples to right center. P Frank Flores, who singled his first time up, lines a hit to left and Kelm scores. 3 to 1, Beavers. The next two make outs.

Bottom of the Seventh:
New Pitcher: Rich Arauz (22-R), a rookie with 3 scoreless innings under his belt. With 1 out, Jeff Galka swings at a 3-2 pitch and lines our second hit of the game to left center. A.J. Lee knocks our third hit of the game over the fence in left center!! 5 to 1, Beavers!

Top of the Eighth:
Larry Murphy and Jeff Novotny lead off with back to back hits. Alex Urias flies out to almost the warning track in right and Murphy goes to 3rd. Call to the Bullpen: Steve Stewart (25-L). Marco Manga lines out to center and Murphy scores without a throw. 5 to 2, Beavers. Call to the Bullpen: Rich Larkin (25-R). Dave Kiehne flies out to center!

Bottom of the Eighth:
Jerry Suazo leads off with a walk and Enrique Ramos grounds a hit to left. Glenn Snowden swings at the first pitch and bloops a hit to right and the bases are loaded with no outs. Tin Higbee lines out to deep left and Suazo trots home. 6 to 2, Beavers! Jeff Galka grounds out slowly to 3rd and the runners move up. A.J. Lee grounds out to short.

Bottom of the Ninth:
Dick Henry grounds one back to the box, but P Rich Larkin makes an errant throw and then balks Henry to 2nd...Henry goes to 3rd on a ground out. Larry Kelm lines a hit to center and Henry scores... 6 to 3, Beavers. The Bullpen is stirring. PH Phil Brown (31-R), batting .321 with 1 HR in 53 AB, swings at the first pitch and lines out to center. Larry Murphy takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4, bringing the tying run to the plate... Jeff Novotny doubles to center and Kelm scores and the tying run is in scoring position... 6 to 4, Beavers. Call to the Bullpen: Dave Briggs (27-L). Alex Urias lines a hit to left and Murphy scores... 6 to 5, Beavers. Marco Manga walks to load the bases up with 2 outs... Call to the Bullpen: Jimmy Taylor (32-R). Dave Kiehne flies out to right and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Beavers!

Won - 6 to 5

We had 6 hits and made 1 error
Minnesota had 10 hits and made no errors

Barry Phillips (W 6-1) went 7.1 innings, allowed 2 runs, 7 hits, 2 walks and struck out 2. 103 pitches.
LHP Steve Stewart (H 4) faced 1 batter and got him out.
RHP Rich Larkin (H 1) went 1 inning, allowed 3 unearned run (his own error), 2 hits, and 1 walk.
LHP Dave Briggs faced 2 batters and gave up a hit and a walk.
RHP Jimmy Taylor (SV 2) faced 1 batter and got him out.

Frank Flores (L 5-2) went 6 innings, gave us 3 runs, 1 hit, a home run, 4 walks and struck out 2. He threw a WP. At bat, he was 2 for 2 with an RBI.

2B George Brock drew 2 walks. LF Enrique Ramos had a hit and a walk and scored a run. 1B Glen Snowden had 2 hits with his 9th home run of the season, drew a walk, scored 2 runs and had 2 RBI. 3B Jeff Galka had a hit, scored a run and had an RBI. RF A.J. Lee hit his 3rd home run of the season and had 2 RBI and made 2 fantabulous catches in right. He has established a new career high in HR for a complete season on May 5th!

For Minnesota, LF Jeff Novotny had 3 hits with a double and a walk and an RBI.

[Questdog]

Friday, May 6, 2005

Minnesota Twins (16-10 .615 1 GB in 2nd place in the PCL East) at
Portland Beavers (19-8 .704 4.5 GA in 1st place in the PCL West)

MIN: Billy Zatz (21-L 0-0 54.00) vs POR: Bobby Johnson (26-R 4-1 2.23)

Zatz, one of the top up and coming young pitches in the game, has only had 1 start this season and had to leave in the first inning with an injury. he missed almost all of last year with a torn UCL. Unfortunately, it looks like injuries will derail his promising career. But he is ready to go today and should be a tough nut to crack. We faced him once, way back in 2003 and he pitched a CG and beat us. He is 8-4 with 1 SV and a 2.67 ERA in 131.1 IP in his career.

Johnson has won 4 starts in a row. Last time out, he pitched a 3 hit shutout. He was 1-0 in 2 starts in the PCLCS.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
MINNESOTA
1: 3B Larry Murphy (25-R .282-103-0-10-.719 87) Silver Slugger/All-Star
2: LF Jeff Novotny (22-L .392-79-2-14-.989 58)
3: 1B Alex Urias (39-L .266-94-6-16-.844 90) MVP/2-time Silver Slugger(01,04)/2-time All-Star(01,04)/Gold Glove(01)
4: CF Marco Manga (25-L .257-101-3-13-.722 57) 2-time All-Star(02-03)
5: C Dave Kiehne (30-R .250-88-1-12-.681 79)
6: SS Dick Henry (27-S .340-94-0-12-.834 88) Silver Slugger/All-Star/Gold Glove
7: 2B Dave Macnaughton (32-R .278-90-1-11-.759 79) 3-time All-Star(02-04)
8: RF Larry Kelm (29-R .296-54-0-7-.799 79)
9: P Billy Zatz (21-L Season debut at bat 31)

PORTLAND
1: 2B George Brock (24-L .287-101-0-10-.753 101)
2: RF A.J. Lee (25-R .229-35-3-8-.807 75)
3: C Tim Higbee (22-S .267-90-2-15-.775 55) All-Star/Gold Glove
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (28-R .330-88-9-19-1.136 62) 3-time Silver Slugger(02-04)/4-time All-Star/Gold Glove(01)
5: 3B Jeff Galka (36-R .278-90-4-17-.798 58)
6: LF Kim Springer (24-L .366-93-4-15-1.005 57)
7: SS Dave Maynard (22-R .333-12-0-0-.750 103) Rookie
8: CF Vern Hagner (23-R Beaver debut 89) Rookie
9: P Bobby Johnson (26-R .400-15-0-0-.867 1)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Metropolitan Stadium
Weather: 61 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 19 MPH wind blowing in from center
Attendance: 17,413

Top of the First:
Larry Murphy grounds out to 3rd. Jeff Novotny swings at the first pitch and lines out to short, Dave Maynard making a nice catch! Alex Urias pops out to right! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the First:
George Brock flies out to center. A.J. Lee takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Tim Higbee grounds into a 5-4-3 double play...

Two innings, two 5-4-3 double plays for us on offense...

Bottom of the Third:
Vern Hagner, in his Beaver debut, grounds a hit up the middle! P Billy Zatz balks him to 2nd. P Bobby Johnson bunts him to 3rd. With the infield in, George Brock grounds out to 3rd and Hagner holds... A.J. Lee strikes out....

Top of the Fourth:
Marco Manga doubles to left center. With 1 out, Dick Henry walks on 4 pitches... 3 walks issued by P Bobby Johnson, who only walked 7 in his first 6 starts combined... Dave Macnaughton swings at the first pitch and flies out to the warning track in center and Manga goes to 3rd. Larry Kelm grounds out to short!

Top of the Fifth:
P Billy Zatz leads off with a double to center... The first extra base hit of his career... Larry Murphy lines a hit to center and P Zatz heads home, but Vern Hagner throws the ball over the catcher for an error and Murphy goes to 2nd... 1 to 0, Twins. Jeff Novotny and Alex Urias both strike out! Marco Manga pops out to center!

Bottom of the Sixth:
With 1 out, A.J. Lee grounds one to 3rd, but Larry Murphy boots it. With 2 outs, a wild pitch sends Lee to 2nd. Glenn Snowden lines a doubles down the left field line and Lee scores! Tie Game: 1 to 1. Jeff Galka swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds a hit to left and Snowden scores without a throw! 2 to 1, Beavers! Kim Springer hits a home run to left!! 4 to 1, Beavers!

Top of the Eighth:
New Pitcher: Jimmy Taylor (32-R). Enrique Ramos, who grounded into our third 5-4-3 double play of the game last inning, stays in to play right. Dave Kiehne and Dick Henry lead off with back to back hits. The Bullpen gets back up. Dave Macnaughton grounds into a force at 2nd, 1-6, and Kiehne goes to 3rd. Larry Kelm grounds into a 6-4-3 double play!

Top of the Ninth:
With 1 out, Larry Murphy walks on 4 pitches. Jeff Novotny and Alex Urias then both single to load the bases up with 1 out... P Jimmy Taylor has been less than impressive since joining the Beavers.... Marco Manga lines a hit to right center and Murphy scores... 4 to 2, Beavers. Call to the Bullpen: Leonardo Sanchez (25-R), the Fireman Trophy winner, who has had his own issues of late... Dave Kiehne bloops a hit to center and Novotny scores... 4 to 3, Beavers. Dick Henry strikes out! 2 down. Dave Macnaughton strikes out on 3 pitches!!!! And THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Beavers!

Won - 4 to 3

Two straight heart attack finishes....

We had 9 hits and made 1 error
Minnesota had 12 hits and made 1 error

We grounded into 4 double plays, including 3 of the 5-4-3 variety.

Bobby Johnson (W 5-1) went 7 innings, allowed 1 run, 6 hits, 4 walks (1 INT) and struck out 4. 119 pitches.
RHP Jimmy Taylor (H 1) went 1.1 innings, allowed 2 runs, 5 hits, and 1 walk. In 5.2 innings with Atlanta before the trade, we walked 1 and struck out 7. On 6.1 innings since the trade, he has waked 2 and struck out 1 and given up 10 hits.... That's what we are paying $950,000 for.... And we have to pay him next year, too.....
RHP Leonardo Sanchez (SV 1) got 2 outs, allowed 1 hit and struck out 2.

Billy Zatz (L 0-1) went 6.1 innings, gave us 4 unearned runs, 6 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks and struck out 1. He threw a WP and balked. At bat, he hit a double and scored a run.

C Tim Higbee had 2 hits. 1B Glenn Snowden hit a double, drew a walk, scored a run and had and RBI. 3B Jeff Galka had a hit, scored a run and had an RBI. LF Kim Springer had 2 hits with his 5th home run of the season and 2 RBI. CF Vern Hagner, in his Beaver debut, went 1 for 3 and made a throwing error. PH Steve Hermanson had a hit.

[Questdog]

Saturday, May 7, 2005

Minnesota Twins (16-11 .593 2 GB in 2nd place in the PCL East) at
Portland Beavers (20-8 .714 4.5 GA in 1st place in the PCL West)

MIN: George Johnson (27-R 5-0 1.35) vs POR: John Krawczyk (26-L 2-2 4.50)

Johnson gave up 3 hits and 1 unearned run in 8 IP last time out in a win. We faced him once in the regular season last year and he beat us, going 8 innings and giving his 4 hits and 3 runs. In the PCLCS, he went 8.1 innings and gave us 5 hits and 2 runs, but had a no decision in a game we lost in extra innings. We beat him in Game 6, scoring 4 runs in 3 IP.

In his last win, Krawczyk pitched a CG, allowing 2 runs, 8 hits, 1 walk and striking out 4. In the 2 starts since, he has pitched 10 innings, allowed 8 runs, 13 hits, 9 walks and struck out 4.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
MINNESOTA
1: 3B Larry Murphy (25-R .292-106-0-11-.744 87) Silver Slugger/All-Star
2: CF Marco Manga (25-L .264-106-3-14-.734 57) 2-time All-Star(02-03)
3: LF Jeff Novotny (22-L .393-84-2-14-.978 58)
4: 1B Alex Urias (39-L .263-99-6-16-.823 90) MVP/2-time Silver Slugger(01,04)/2-time All-Star(01,04)/Gold Glove(01)
5: C Dave Kiehne (30-R .258-93-1-13-.687 79)
6: SS Dick Henry (27-S .340-97-0-12-.840 88) Silver Slugger/All-Star/Gold Glove
7: 2B Dave Macnaughton (32-R .274-95-1-11-.741 79) 3-time All-Star(02-04)
8: RF Phil Brown (31-R .309-55-1-8-.795 52)
9: P George Johnson (27-R .125-16-0-1-.347 1)

PORTLAND
1: 2B George Brock (24-L .286-105-0-10-.744 101)
2: RF Enrique Ramos (26-L .278-97-6-17-.809 73) 3-time All-Star(02-04)/Silver Slugger(CF-03)/RoY(01)/Gold Glove(LF-01)
3: LF Kim Springer (24-L .375-96-5-17-1.046 57)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (28-R .330-91-9-20-1.137 62) 3-time Silver Slugger(02-04)/4-time All-Star/Gold Glove(01)
5: C Tim Higbee (22-S .277-94-2-15-.783 55) All-Star/Gold Glove
6: 3B Jeff Galka (36-R .277-94-4-18-.785 58)
7: SS Dave Maynard (22-R .267-15-0-0-.600 103) Rookie
8: CF Jerry Suazo (30-L .244-86-3-10-.725 71)
9: P John Krawczyk (26-L .077-13-0-0-.231 1)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Metropolitan Stadium
Weather: 59 F, Overcast, with a 7 MPH wind blowing out to left
Attendance: 20,438

Our first crowd of 20 thousand since Opening Day!

Top of the First:
Larry Murphy grounds out to short. Marco Manga grounds a hit to center. Jeff Novotny flies out to the warning track in dead center. Manga steals 2nd. Alex Urias swings at a 3-2 pitch and flies out to left!

Bottom of the First:
George Brock swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 3rd. Enrique Ramos swings at the first pitch and flies out to the warning track in right. Kim Springer swings at the first pitch and I cringe, but the ball flies over the fence in right! 1 to 0, Beavers! Glenn Snowden swings at the first pitch and bloops a hit to right. Snowden tries to steal 2nd and is out... Only the 3rd steal attempt of his career and the first time he has been caught.

Top of the Second:
Dave Kiehne and Dick Henry lead off with back to back hits and the Twins have runners at the corners with no outs. Dave Macnaughton grounds into a 6-4-3 double play and Kiehne scores. Tie Game: 1 to 1. Phil Brown triples to the left field corner... P George Johnson strikes out.

Top of the Third:
Larry Murphy lines a hit to right and then steals 2nd. With 1 out, Jeff Novotny lines a hit to right and Murphy heads home, but Enrique Ramos throws him out! Novotny goes to 2nd on the play at the plate. Alex Urias swings at a 3-2 pitch and pops out to right! 6 hits in 3 innings...

Top of the Fourth:
Dave Kiehne grounds a hit to left. We get the Bullpen up. Krawczyk is just a batting tee... Dick Henry hits a home run to left... 3 to 1, Twins. The next three make outs.

Bottom of the Fifth:
With 1 out, Jerry Suazo swings at the first pitch and lines a hit to left. PH Steve Hermanson grounds one back to the box, but P George Johnson makes an error on his throw to 2nd. George Brock swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit to left and Jeff Novotny overruns the ball for an error and Suazo scores and runners are at 2nd and 3rd with 1 out! 3 to 2, Twins. With the infield in, Enrique Ramos plates both runners with a double grounded over the 3rd base bag!! 4 to 3, Beavers! Kim Springer and Glenn Snowden, our two best hitters, both pop out on the infield...

Bottom of the Sixth:
Tim Higbee grounds one wide of first and Alex Urias corrals it, but tosses the ball over the head of P George Johnson for a 2 base error! They walk Jeff Galka intentionally. Dave Maynard grounds into a 6-4-3 double play and Higbee goes to 3rd. Now, he is a part of the team! Jerry Suazo grounds out to 2nd.

Top of the Eighth:
New Pitcher: Steve Stewart (25-L). Marco Manga doubles to left center. With 1 out, Alex Urias grounds a hit to center and Manga heads home.... safe... Tie Game: 4 to 4. Call to the Bullpen: Leonardo Sanchez (25-R). Dave Kiehne swings at a 3-0 pitch and grounds into a 5-4-3 double play!

Top of the Ninth:
Dick Henry pops one over the 3rd baseman, but Jeff Galka makes a running catch! Dave Macnaughton swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 3rd. Phil Brown hits a home run to center... 5 to 4, Twins. It starts to rain... How symbolic... PH Carlos Alvarez (27-R), batting .194 with 1 HR in 31 AB, takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... He tries to steal 2nd, but C Tim Higbee throws him out!

Bottom of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Rick Wells (22-R), their young closer with a 1.86 ERA in 9.2 IP. Only 5 H. 7-8-9 up for us. Dave Maynard grounds a hit to left. It stops raining! Jerry Suazo bunts Maynard to 2nd. PH Jay Kerksieck (27-R) gets beaned... George Brock squibs one and they get the force at 2nd, 2-5=6, and Maynard goes to 3rd. 2 outs. Enrique Ramos grounds out to 2nd....

Lost - 5 to 4

We had 8 hits and made no errors
Minnesota had 13 hits and made 3 errors

John Krawczyk went 5 innings, allowed 3 runs, 8 hits, 1 home run, no walks and struck out 3. Better than he has been doing, but still not very good...
RHP Jerry Switalski (H 1) went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 2 hits, 1 walk and struck out 1.
LHP Steve Stewart (BS 1) got 1 out, allowed 1 run and 2 hits.
RHP Leonardo Sanchez (L 0-1) went 1.2 innings, allowed 1 run, 1 hit, a home run and 1 walk.

George Johnson went 6 innings, gave us 4 runs (3 earned), 6 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks and struck out 1.
RHP Rich Arauz (W 1-0) went 2 scoreless innings, and gave us 1 hit.
RHP Rick Wells (SV 8) pitched a scoreless 9th and gave us 1 hit and 1 HBP.

2B George Brock had 2 hits, scored a run and had an RBI. RF Enrique Ramos had 2 hits with a double and 2 RBI and threw a runner out at the plate, but grounded out to end the game with the tying run in scoring position. LF Kim Springer hit his 6th home run of the season. 3B Jeff Galka walked twice (1 INT). PH Steve Hermanson reached on an error and scored a run.

For Minnesota, C Dave Kiehne, he of the new $2 million a year contract, had 3 hits with a double and scored 2 runs and became the first catcher ever to throw out Glenn Snowden.

[Questdog]

Sunday, May 8, 2005

Minnesota Twins (17-11 .607 1 GB in 2nd place in the PCL East) at
Portland Beavers (20-9 .690 3.5 GA in 1st place in the PCL West)

MIN: Santos Matamoros (26-R 2-3 6.41) vs POR: Rick Webber (26-L 2-2 4.50)

Matamoros gave up 6 runs (3 earned) in 3.2 IP last time out. He was 16-10 with a 3.88 ERA last year. Last year, we faced him twice during the season and twice in the PCLCS. He did not have a decision in the regular season and went 1-1 in the PCLCS. All 4 games were good outings, but none of them better than his Game 7 win in the PCLCS where he held us to 4 hits and 1 run in 8 IP.

Webber gave up 6 runs (3 earned) in 3.1 IP last time out in a loss.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
MINNESOTA
1: 3B Larry Murphy (25-R .291-110-0-11-.736 87) Silver Slugger/All-Star
2: LF Jeff Novotny (22-L .386-88-2-14-.957 58)
3: 1B Alex Urias (39-L .262-103-6-17-.811 90) MVP/2-time Silver Slugger(01,04)/2-time All-Star(01,04)/Gold Glove(01)
4: CF Marco Manga (25-L .273-110-3-14-.752 57) 2-time All-Star(02-03)
5: C Dave Kiehne (30-R .278-97-1-13-.729 79)
6: SS Dick Henry (27-S .347-101-1-14-.876 88) Silver Slugger/All-Star/Gold Glove
7: 2B Dave Macnaughton (32-R .265-98-1-11-.725 79) 3-time All-Star(02-04)
8: RF Carlos Alvarez (27-R .194-31-1-4-.533 77)
9: P Santos Matamoros (26-S .200-5-0-0-.400 50)

PORTLAND
1: 2B George Brock (24-L .291-110-0-11-.746 101)
2: CF Jerry Suazo (30-L .247-89-3-10-.723 71)
3: LF Kim Springer (24-L .370-100-6-18-1.054 57)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (28-R .326-95-9-20-1.112 62) 3-time Silver Slugger(02-04)/4-time All-Star/Gold Glove(01)
5: RF Enrique Ramos (26-L .284-102-6-19-.818 73) 3-time All-Star(02-04)/Silver Slugger(CF-03)/RoY(01)/Gold Glove(LF-01)
6: 3B Jeff Galka (36-R .271-96-4-18-.782 58)
7: SS Dave Maynard (22-R .263-19-0-0-.579 103) Rookie
8: C Jay Kerksieck (27-R .286-7-0-2-.804 67)
9: P Rick Webber (23-L .200-5-0-0-.400 1)

Game Start: 1:05 PM
Ballpark: Metropolitan Stadium
Weather: 69 F, Clear Skies, with a 12 MPH wind blowing right to left
Attendance: 20,688

Top of the First:
Larry Murphy grounds out to 3rd. Jeff Novotny pops out to left. Alex Urias strikes out! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the First:
George Brock strikes out... Jerry Suazo swings at the first pitch and grounds out to short. Kim Springer pops out to short...

Bottom of the Second:
Glenn Snowden draws a walk. With 1 out, Jeff Galka lines a double down the left field line. Dave Maynard grounds out to short and Snowden scores. 1 to 0, Beavers! A wild pitch sends Galka to 3rd. Jay Kerksieck grounds one to 2nd, but Dave Macnaughton boots it and Galka scores! 2 to 0, Beavers! P Rick Webber lines a double to left and Kerksieck scores from 1st without a throw! 3 to 0, Beavers!

Top of the Third:
With 1 out, Carlos Alvarez grounds one to 3rd, but Jeff Galka throws it away for a 2 base error... Alvarez goes to 3rd on a ground out and scores on a 2 out liner to left for a hit by Larry Murphy. 3 to 1, Beavers.

Top of the Fourth:
Alex Urias leads off with a home run down the right field line... 3 to 2, Beavers.

Top of the Sixth:
Jeff Novotny leads off with a double to right center. The Bullpen is up. P Rick Webber balks him to 3rd... Alex Urias grounds out to the pitcher and Novotny stays put. Marco Manga pops out to left and Novotny stays put. Dave Kiehne strikes out looking!

Bottom of the Eighth:
On the Hill: Rick Nini (32-R), after a scoreless 7th where we loaded the bases up with 2 outs, but Jeff Galka could not come through. With 1 out, Jay Kerksieck walks on 4 pitches. PH Steve Hermanson (27-S) strikes out... George Brock walks on 4 pitches. Jerry Suazo swings at the first pitch and clears the bases with a double to left center!! 5 to 2, Beavers!

Top of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Ron Marling (24-R). Marco Manga swings a the first pitch and hits a home run to right center... 5 to 3, Beavers. Dave Kiehne grounds one to 3rd and Jeff Galka makes his second 2 base throwing error of the game... Dick Henry grounds out to short. Dave Macnaughton flies out to deep center and Kiehne tags up and moves to 3rd. Carlos Alvarez doubles to center and Kiehne scores... 5 to 4, Beavers. Call to the Bullpen: Jimmy Taylor (32-R). PH Duane Cage (29-S), 1 for 2 with a double in this series, takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... Larry Murphy swings at the first pitch and grounds one to 3rd and Jeff Galka goes the short route to 2nd and makes a good throw and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Beavers!

Won - 5 to 4

We had 8 hits and made 2 errors
Minnesota had 5 hits and made 2 errors

Rick Webber (W 2-2) went 6 innings, allowed 2 runs (1 earned(, 3 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk and struck out 4. He balked. At bat, he hit a double and had an RBI.
RHP Jerry Switalski (H 2) went 1.1 scoreless innings and walked 1.
LHP Dave Briggs (H 2) faced 2 batters and got them both out with 1 strikeout.
RHP Ron Marling (H 1) got 2 outs, allowed 2 runs (1 earned), 2 hits and 1 home run.
RHP Jimmy Taylor (SV 3) got 1 out and walked 1.

Santos Matamoros (L 2-4) went 6 innings, gave us 3 runs (1 earned), 6 hits, 1 walk and struck out 4. He threw a WP. 105 pitches.

CF Jerry Suazo hit a double and had 2 RBI. LF Kim Springer had 2 hits and stole a base. 1B Glenn Snowden went 2 for 2 with 2 walks (1 INT) and scored a run. 3B Jeff Galka had 2 hits with a double and scored a run and made 2 errors. C Jay Kerksieck drew a walk and scored 2 runs.

[Questdog]

May 9, 2005

Monday Morning Report
NL Player of the Week - Jim Markham, 2B, Brooklyn (27-R .346/.419/.486) Had 13 hits with 3 2B, 3 BB, 2 SO, 2 SB, 1 CS, 6 R and 7 RBI in 6 G
PCL Player of the Week - Dave McDowell, LF, San Francisco (34-R .278/.322/.491) Had 11 hits with 2 2B, 2 HR, 1 BB, 6 SO, 2 SB, 0 CS, 6 R and 6 RBI in 6 G (7th career PoW)

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

May 2 - Jeff Hunt (29-R) of Hollywood pitched a 1 hit shutout at San Diego. He walked 4 and struck out 4. 138 pitches thrown. At bat, he had a hit and scored a run. It is the 8th shutout of his career. He is now 2-2 with a 3.43 ERA in 6 starts. The Stars won, 4 to 0.
May 2 - CF Charlie Petrick (23-L) of Montreal hit s Grand Slam had had 5 RBI at home versus Boston. The Expos won, 8 to 3.
May 3 - Willie Jankowski (28-R) of Detroit pitched a 3 hit shutout at Atlanta. he walked 1, hit a batter and struck out 2. It is his 2nd shutout of the season and the 6th of his career. He is now 3-2 with a 2.44 ERA in 6 starts. The Tigers won, 4 to 0.
May 3 - Joe Stillwagon (29-R) of Cincinnati went 4 for 4 with a double, stole a base and had 4 RBI at Miami. The Reds won, 5 to 4, in 11 innings.
May 4 - Rod Walker (27-R) of Cleveland pitched a 3 hit shutout at home versus Pittsburgh. He walked 2 and struck out 8. It is the 1st shutout of his career. He is now 3-4 with a 2.66 ERA in 7 starts. The Indians won, 3 to 0.
May - 5 - LF Mark Montana (27-R) of Baltimore had 3 hits with a double and a home run, stole a base, scored 3 runs and had 4 RBI at Atlanta. The Orioles won, 9 to 5.
May 5 - Dave Little (23-L) of Pittsburgh pitched a 5 hit shutout at Brooklyn. He walked 2 and struck out 3. At bat, he had a hit. He is tied for the Major League lead with 3 shutouts this season. It was the 9th of his career. He is now 3-2 with a 2.44 ERA in 7 starts. The Pirates won, 4 to 0.
May 5 - Rookie LF Joe Poole (21-R) of Boston, the 2nd overall pick in this year's B Leagues Draft, had 4 hits with 2 doubles and a home run, scored 2 runs and had 4 RBI at St. Louis. The Braves won, 10 to 2.
May 6 - Sam Henderson (31-R) of Hollywood pitched a 3 hit shutout at home versus Kansas City. He walked 1 and struck out 4. It is his 2nd shutout of the season and the 16th of his career. He is now 4-3 with a 2.10 ERA in 7 starts. The Stars won, 4 to 0.
May 6 - Mark Livington (24-L) of San Antonio pitched a 4 hit shutout at Oakland. He walked 3, hit a batter and struck out 3. It is his 2nd shutout of the season and of his career. He is now 5-2 with a 1.54 ERA in 7 starts. The Missions won, 1 to 0, and only had 5 hits themselves.
May 6 - Philadelphia won at Cleveland, 7 to 0, in 12 innings. The Phillies only had 1 hit and the Indians made 1 error in the 12th. There were 6 walks and and a HBP.
May 7 - Rookie Del Maas (21-R) of Los Angeles, in his second career start, pitched a 3 hit shutout at home versus Dallas. He walked 2 and struck out 6. At bat, he had his 1st career hit. He is now 2-0 with an 0.53 ERA in 2 starts. The Angels won, 3 to 0. He was a 4th round pick in this year's B Leagues Draft, but was rated the #17 overall prospect by Baseball America. It looks like they knew what they were talking about.
May 7 - Steve Laschober (29-R) of New York, in his 1st start of the season, pitched a 4 hit shutout at Cincinnati. He walked 2 and struck out 5. At bat, he drew 2 walks and scored a run. It is the 1st shutout of his career. The Giants won, 5 to 0.
May 7 - Mark Baransky (28-R) of Brooklyn, in his 1st start of the season, pitched a 5 hit shutout at home versus Pittsburgh. He walked 2 and struck out 2. At bat, he hit a double. It is the 1st shutout of his career. He has only started 4 games, having pitched 118 games in relief. The Dodgers won, 5 to 0.
May 8 - C Joe Taylor (24-R) of Denver had 4 hits with 2 doubles, scored a run and had 4 RBI at Sacramento. The Bears won, 9 to 5.
May 8 - Ernesto Maduro (25-L) of Washington pitched a No-Hitter at Miami. He walked 1 and struck out 6. 89 pitches thrown. At bat, he drew a walk. It is the 2nd no-hitter of 2005. The first was a Perfect Game pitched by Maduro's opponent in this contest, Gene Izbicki (26-R). It is the 6th shutout of his career. The Nationals won, 3 to 0.
May 8 - CF Jim Sanders (27-R) of Brooklyn had 3 hits and a walk and scored 5 runs to tie the all-time record. 2B/3B Jim Markham (27-R) went 4 for 4 with a double and 2 walks, scored 4 runs and had 3 RBI. The Dodgers won, 19 to 4.

[Questdog]

Monday, May 9, 2005

Trade #63
SP Ron Marling (24-R) to Detroit for RF Dale Thomas (24-R)

I am tired of Marling giving up home runs and Thomas is a big upgrade over RF Roberto Damas (33-R), who we just traded for a week ago.

Rich Larkin (25-R) and Steve Stewart (25-L) have both been clamoring to get a chance as starters, and I look around the League and I see pitchers with worse 3rd pitches than they have succeeding, so we'll give them a shot. That leaves us pretty weak in the Bullpen, though, so....

Trade #64
SP Don Marshall (25-L) to Chicago for RP Jim Tipton (29-R).

Marshall tore his flexor tendon last March and is not worth diddly anymore. He was our 4th round pick in the 2004 B Leagues Draft.

Tipton is not much, but you get what you pay for... He will go to Vancouver (A) as injury insurance. We have no relievers there now that have a shot at being successful in the Majors this season, other than Larry McLellan (28-R) and I don't want to have him back, if I can help it.

Trade #65
RF Leon Davis (23-R) to San Diego for RP Hal Ockey (29-R)

Davis was our 1st round pick in the 2004 B Leagues Draft, but he is 6 for 47 (.128) for us over the past two seasons and is not hitting much since his demotion to Vancouver (A). The biggest reason for agreeing to trade him, though, is that he does not seem to be getting any better at taking walks than he was 3 years ago. Also, with the acquisition of Dale Thomas, he becomes redundant.

Trade #66
2B Mike Janes (28-L) to Boston for RP Vinny Martinez (35-L)

Janes cannot field or hit. We signed him as a minor league free agent back in 2002.

Martinez is a slop throwing old lefty who can start games if he has to. We needed another lefty in the Pen with Stewart going to the rotation and there are precious few acceptable lefties alive.

Am I going to have to rebuild the Bullpen from scratch every season?

SP John Krawczyk (26-L) and RF Roberto Damas (33-R) were sent to Vancouver (A). I feel bad about Damas, but not so bad as to not put him on the train... He was 1 for 1 with a walk as a Beaver.

We are in Houston to play the Astros a 4 game series. They lost 3 of 4 here to the Seals over the weekend. We were 7-1 against them last year when they finished 74-88 in 6th place in the PCL East. We are 22-10 since 2001, the best record we have against any team. They are tied for 13th in scoring in the PCL with 3.60 runs per game (Portland is #2 with 5.03). They are hitting a PCL worst .232 as a team. We are 4th at .271. The Astros are 11th in fewest runs allowed with 4.57 per game (Portland is #4 with 3.73). Their run differential is -29 and ours is +39, still the Best in Baseball. They have not made a lot of changes from last season.

Portland Beavers (21-9 .700 4.5 GA in 1st place in the PCL West) at
Houston Astros (10-20 .333 9.5 GB in 8th (last) place in the PCL East)

POR: Rich Larkin (25-R 3-1 1.72 4 SV) vs HOU: Dave Eneix (34-R 1-2 5.95)

Larkin is making his first start as a professional. If he gets hit hard in the Astrodome by this weak hitting team, he will not get a 2nd as a Beaver.

Eneix was released by the Cubs on April 13 and signed by the Astros 2 days later. He was 7-12 with a 4.44 ERA for the Phillies last year. In 2001, he was 14-11 with a 3.21 ERA for the Cardinals. In his last start, he gave up 6 runs in 6.2 IP at Minnesota for a loss. We have never faced him.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
PORTLAND
1: 2B George Brock (24-L .281-114-0-11-.727 101)
2: RF Enrique Ramos (26-L .276-105-6-19-.801 73) 3-time All-Star(02-04)/Silver Slugger(CF-03)/RoY(01)/Gold Glove(LF-01)
3: LF Kim Springer (24-L .371-105-6-18-1.042 57)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (28-R .340-97-9-20-1.137 62) 3-time Silver Slugger(02-04)/4-time All-Star/Gold Glove(01)
5: C Tim Higbee (22-S .263-99-2-15-.746 55) All-Star/Gold Glove
6: 3B Jeff Galka (36-R .280-100-4-18-.800 58)
7: SS Dave Maynard (22-R .227-22-0-1-.500 103) Rookie
8: CF Jerry Suazo (30-L .245-94-3-12-.718 71)
9: P Rich Larkin (25-R Season debut at bat 1) 1 for 4 in his career

HOUSTON
1: RF Tracy King (27-R .265-98-0-2-.638 75) 19 R/5 2B/5 BB/6 SB
2: 2B Jim Sager (26-R .282-110-3-15-.760 99) Silver Slugger(SS-02)/All-Star(02) 6 2B/8 BB
3: LF Tommy Gibralter (26-L .318-110-3-18-.848 60) 8 2B
4: 3B Russ Jimenez (34-R .000-4-0-1-.200 63) Silver Slugger(2B-02)/2-time All-Star(01-02)
5: 1B Frank Nurre (23-R .091-33-1-1-.401 61) Rookie 12 SO
6: SS Ron Smart (21-L .347-75-4-16-.998 90) Rookie 7th overall pick this year #18 prospect 16 R/3 3B/5 BB
7: C Ivan Borrero (32-R .214-28-1-4-.624 75)
8: CF Gwang-sam Jean (33-L .211-95-0-6-.522 68) FA from Hollywood 3 2B
9: P Dave Eneix (34-R .000-5-0-0-.000 1)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: The Astrodome
Weather: Indoors
Attendance: 11,462

Top of the First:
George Brock swings at a 3-2 pitch and lines out to 2nd. Enrique Ramos swings at a 3-2 pitch and doubles to right. Kim Springer swings at another 3-2 pitch and triples to the right field corner and Ramos scores! 1 to 0, Beavers! Glenn Snowden strikes out... Tim Higbee grounds out to 2nd.

Bottom of the First:
Tracy King swings at the first pitch and grounds out to short. Jim Sager grounds out to the pitcher. Tommy Gibralter grounds a hit to center. Russ Jimenez strikes out on 3 pitches!

Top of the Third:
Enrique Ramos swings at the first pitch and hits a home run down the right field line! 2 to 0, Beavers! With 1 out, Glenn Snowden doubles to right center. Tim Higbee lobs a hit to right center. Jeff Galka pops out to 2nd... Dave Maynard strikes out...

Top of the Fifth:
Enrique Ramos leads off with a double down the left field line. With 2 outs, Tim Higbee lines a hit to center and Ramos scores without a throw! 3 to 0, Beavers! Jeff Galka lines a hit to right. Dave Maynard strikes out looking....

Bottom of the Sixth:
Jim Sager leads off with a double to right center. The Bullpen gets up. Tommy Gibralter grounds out to 2nd and Sager goes to 3rd. Russ Jimenez grounds out to 3rd and Sager scores... 3 to 1. I wish we would play the infield in to protect a shutout, regardless of the score....

Top of the Seventh:
Enrique Ramos and Kim Springer lead off with back to back hits. Glenn Snowden lines out to right and Ramos tags up and beats the throw to 3rd. Tim Higbee lines out to center and Ramos tags up and beats the throw home. 4 to 1, Beavers! That does it for P Dave Eneix. New Pitcher: Frank Henderson (25-L), with a 1.64 ERA in 11 IP with 12 SO. He has been released twice already in 2005. Jeff Galka lines a double down the right field line and Springer scores and Galka ends up on 3rd! 5 to 1, Beavers! Dave Maynard grounds out to the pitcher...

Bottom of the Seventh:
With 1 out, Ivan Borrero grounds a hit up the middle. Gwang-sam Jean pokes a hit to right and Borrero beats the throw to 3rd. The Bullpen gets up. PH Mike Oakley (31-L), batting .235 with 1 HR in 68 AB, is sent up. He was an All-Star before the Astros moved to the Astrodome. His hitting style (big basher) is not suited to this park. He flies out to left and Borrero tags up and scores. 5 to 2, Beavers.Tracy King grounds a hit up the middle and Jean goes to 3rd. Call to the Bullpen: Leonardo Sanchez (25-R). A.J. Lee is in to play 3rd in a double switch. Jim Sager lines out to short!

Won - 5 to 2

We had 13 hits and made 1 error
Houston had 9 hits and made no errors

Rich Larkin (W 4-1) went 6.2 innings, allowed 2 runs, 7 hits, 1 walk and struck out 6. 103 pitches. He earned a 2nd start.
RHP Leonardo Sanchez (SV 2) pitched 2.1 scoreless innings, allowed 2 hits and struck out 2.

Dave Eneix (L 1-3) went 6.2 innings, gave us 5 runs, 11 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk and struck out 3. 118 pitches.

RF Enrique Ramos had 4 hits with 2 doubles and his 7th home run of the season and tied the PCL record with 4 runs scored. LF Kim Springer had 3 hits with a triple, scored a run and had an RBI. 1B Glenn Snowden hit a double. C Tim Higbee had 2 hits and 2 RBI. 3B Jeff Galka had 2 hits with a double and an RBI. SS Dave Maynard hit a double.

[Questdog]

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Portland Beavers (22-9 .710 5.5 GA in 1st place in the PCL West) at
Houston Astros (10-21 .323 10.5 GB in 8th (last) place in the PCL East)

POR: Barry Phillips (22-R 6-1 3.26) CY/All-Star/Gold Glove(03) vs HOU: Brian Nordmann (30-R 2-5 3.48) All-Star(02)/Silver Slugger(02)

Phillips has won his last 5 starts. He gave up 2 runs in 7.1 IP to the Twins last time out for a win.

Nordmann is their #1 starter. He has lost his last 4 starts, 2 of which were good outings. He gave up 3 runs in 7 IP at the Seals last time out. We faced him once last year and scored 3 runs in 6.2 IP in a no decision that we won in extra innings.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS DEF)
PORTLAND
1: 2B George Brock (24-L .269-119-0-11-.698 101)
2: RF Enrique Ramos (26-L .300-110-7-20-.882 73) 3-time All-Star(02-04)/Silver Slugger(CF-03)/RoY(01)/Gold Glove(LF-01)
3: LF Kim Springer (24-L .382-110-6-19-1.067 57)
4: 1B Glenn Snowden (28-R .333-102-9-20-1.114 62) 3-time Silver Slugger(02-04)/4-time All-Star/Gold Glove(01)
5: C Tim Higbee (22-S .272-103-2-17-.752 55) All-Star/Gold Glove
6: 3B Jeff Galka (36-R .288-104-4-19-.817 58)
7: SS Dave Maynard (22-R .231-26-0-1-.538 103) Rookie
8: CF Jerry Suazo (30-L .237-97-3-12-.703 71)
9: P Barry Phillips (22-R .294-17-1-1-.882 58) CY/All-Star/Gold Glove(03)

HOUSTON
1: 1B Stewart Courchesne (23-L .196-97-2-10-.516 87)
2: 2B Jim Sager (26-R .281-114-3-15-.760 99) Silver Slugger(SS-02)/All-Star(02)
3: LF Tommy Gibralter (26-L .325-114-3-18-.853 60)
4: 3B Russ Jimenez (34-R .000-8-0-2-.111 63) Silver Slugger(2B-02)/2-time All-Star(01-02)
5: RF Mike Oakley (31-L .235-68-1-12-.631 47) Silver Slugger(02)/All-Star(02)
6: CF Gwang-sam Jean (33-L .222-99-0-6-.541 68)
7: SS Tracy King (27-R .262-103-0-2-.626 80)
8: C Pete Copus (27-R .169-65-1-4-.511 69)
9: P Brian Nordmann (30-R .357-14-0-1-.757 1) All-Star(02)/Silver Slugger(02)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: The Astrodome
Weather: Indoors
Attendance: 13,297

Top of the First:
George Brock, hitting .143 in May, grounds out to the pitcher. Enrique Ramos swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses... Kim Springer grounds out to 2nd...

Bottom of the First:
Stewart Courchesne grounds out to 2nd. Jim Sager grounds out to short. Tommy Gibralter swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit to right. Russ Jimenez pops out to 1st!

Bottom of the Fourth:
Gwang-sam Jean leads off with a grounder over the 1st base bag for a double. Tracy King grounds a hit to left and Jean heads home....safe... King goes to 2nd. 1 to 0, Astros. Pete Copus grounds out to 1st, unassisted, and King goes to 3rd. P Brian Nordmann beats out an infield hit and King scores... 2 to 0, Astros. The next two make outs.

Top of the Fifth:
Dave Maynard walks on 4 pitches. Jerry Suazo loops a little hit to right and Maynard goes to 3rd without a throw. P Barry Phillips bunts Suazo to 2nd and Maynard stays put at 3rd. George Brock takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with 1 out. Enrique Ramos grounds into a force at home, 1-2... Kim Springer grounds out to 2nd... No runs...

Bottom of the Fifth:
With 1 out, Russ Jimenez swings at the first pitch and lines his 2nd hit of the year and the game into center. Mike Oakley grounds into a force at 2nd, 1-4, and Jimenez takes 2B George Brock out with a barrel slide and Brock is hurt... A.J. Lee goes in to play 2nd. Gwang-sam Jean takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... The Bullpen is alerted. Tracy King flies out to left.

Top of the Seventh:
With 1 out, Jerry Suazo doubles to right center. PH Steve Hermanson (27-S) doubles to left center and Suazo scores! 2 to 1, Astros. The next two make outs...

Top of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Trevor Magnan (24-R), their closer with 6 scoreless innings this season. 7-8-9 up for us. Dave Maynard strikes out. Jerry Suazo strikes out... PH Dale Thomas (24-R), in his Beaver debut, grounds a hit candidate up the middle, but SS Ron Smart (21-L) makes a diving stop and throws him out...

Lost - 2 to 1

We had 7 hits and made 2 errors
Houston had 8 hits and made no errors

Barry Phillips (L 6-2) went 6 innings, allowed 2 runs, 7 hits, 3 walks and struck out 5. 105 pitches.
RHP Jimmy Taylor went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit, 1 walk (INT) and struck out 1.

Brian Nordmann (W 3-5) went 7 innings, gave us 1 run, 6 hits, 2 walks and struck out 8. He balked. 120 pitches. At bat, he had a hit and an RBI.
RHP Trevor Magnan (SV 5) pitched a perfect 9th with 2 strikeouts.

C Tim Higbee had 2 hits with a double. CF Jerry Suazo had 3 hits with a double and scored our run. PH Steve Hermanson hit a double and drove in our run. PH Dale Thomas, in his Beaver debut, grounded out to short, but almost got a hit.

For Houston, 3B Russ Jimenez had his 1st 3 hits of the season with a double.

Trudy's report on George Brock is a sore elbow that will bother him for about a week.