Beavers go to bat

Despite all the gray skies and drizzling rain, it’s officially springtime and that means baseball is back in season. The Portland Beavers played their season opener last night at PGE Park against the Sacramento River Cats, and there will be three more contests between those teams this weekend.

The Beavers play in the Pacific Coast League as an affiliate of the San Diego Padres, and last year they posted a 60–84 record for a last-place finish in the Pacific North Division. The Beavers will have 11 members on their roster from the Padres to open the season.

Concerns abound regarding the Beavers’ home field, as PGE Park is expected to be remodeled to accommodate the incoming Major League Soccer team in 2012. Currently, there is no official word indicating where the Beavers will play after this year, as the remodel would forgo the Beavers’ 2011 season.

Despite the uncertainty, Portland has a strong team this year, with right-handed pitchers Will Inman, Josh Geer and Cesar Carrillo and lefty Wade LeBlanc working the mound. Manager Terry Kennedy announced that tonight’s starter is Geer, with Carillo and Inman slated to lead off the second half of the series, respectively.

Portland will next play the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, also at PGE Park, for a four-game series before traveling to California for two series, one each against the Fresno Grizzlies and the River Cats.

Tonight’s game begins at 7:05 p.m. and includes a $1 menu—fans can purchase a hot dog, bottle of water and popsicle for $1, and this menu will be offered at every home game on Fridays throughout the season. The first 2,000 fans that head to this weekend’s home stand will receive a Beavers magnet.

All Beavers games will be broadcast on AM 970, and Saturday’s game will be shown on Fox Sports Northwest. Sunday’s third and final contest between Portland and Sacramento will start at 2 p.m.

Beavers ticket prices
Home games played at PGE Park

                               Advance    Day of
Club seating              $40           $40
Infield reserved        $14.50       $15.50
Outfield reserved        $11.50    $12.50