A split start for Beavers

The Portland Beavers dropped their first two games of the 2010 campaign against the Sacramento River Cats but quickly rebounded to win the next pair over opening weekend at PGE Park.

Beavers pitcher Wade LeBlanc opened the series with eight strikeouts, but also allowed four hits during five innings—including a home run from Landon Powell that came close to hitting a passing MAX train. Portland never led and the season opener ended in a loss, 6–2, in front of 6,973 fans.

Outfielder Dusty Ryan made his debut for the Beavers Thursday night and had a homer in the fifth inning, and reliever Scott Munter also took the mound for his first time in a Beavers uniform. He pitched two innings for one strikeout and one run off of two hits.

The Beavers lost again Friday night, 5–10, to a considerably smaller crowd of 1,919 after the River Cats took a commanding lead early and Steve Tolleson broke a tie in the eighth inning with a grand slam. Josh Geer started the pitching for Portland, allowing five runs and eight hits in six innings, with just one strikeout and two walked batters. The pitching loss went to reliever Adam Russell, who pitched Tolleson his grand slam and had two strikeouts in one inning.

Portland turned it around on Saturday, earning their first win for 2,622 fans after a strong start at bat that kept them in the lead throughout a cruise to victory, 7–3. First baseman Craig Cooper knocked out his first homer as a Beaver for two runs in the first inning and outfielder Luis Durango stole two bases on three hits.

Cesar Carrillo started on the mound for Portland, pitching 3 2/3 innings for two strikeouts and just one run off of four hits. Munter relieved him and earned the win with no hits and a pair of Ks in 1 1/3 innings.

The opening series ended Sunday with another Beavers win, 7–4, with attendance at 2,582. Former Beaver Jack Cust played for the River Cats, but his return to PGE Park yielded just two walks and no hits. The lead changed three times through the bottom of the sixth, when Portland secured their win with four runs. Outfielder Chris Denorfia had four hits on five at-bats, earning him an RBI and a run of his own.

Starting pitcher Will Inman pitched five innings for the Beavers, allowing the River Cats their only two hits of the game and all four runs while walking four batters and striking out three. Greg Burke relieved him for 1 1/3 innings and netted the win, and Ryan Webb earned a save after his ninth-inning effort that included two strikeouts, no walks and no hits.

All four games last just minutes shy of three hours and were played in late-40s to mid-50s temperature with cloudy weather and varying wind, though there was some sun during the last game of the series. These typical Portland spring conditions are expected to continue into the Beavers’ next series at home against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox.

That series began last night, with Portland beating the Sky Sox, 1–0. Their second match starts tonight at 7:05 p.m. with tickets still available at the PGE Park box office. It will also be broadcast on Freedom 970 AM, and Thursday night’s series closer will be aired on Fox Sports Net.

Opening weekend results
Thursday        R    H    E
Sacramento     6    9     1
Portland           2    7     0

Friday
Sacramento    10   12    4
Portland           5     6     2

Saturday
Sacramento     3     9     3
Portland          7     12     2

Sunday
Sacramento     4     2     0
Portland          7     12     1