HEETHER, RIVER CATS ESCAPE WITH 11-INNING WIN
Beavers score three in ninth to extend game, falter in extras
For immediate release: July 11, 2010
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Adam Heether drove in three runs and hit the game-winning single as the Sacramento River Cats beat the Portland Beavers 5-4 in 11 innings at Raley Field Sunday afternoon.
After Jeff Baisley and Steve Tolleson singled to start the 11th inning and Michael Taylor walked, Heether stroked a single through the hole at short against Portland reliever Adam Russell (3-7) to give the River Cats (50-41) their seventh win in the last eight games.
The Beavers (34-56) had rallied for three runs on five straight hits in the top of the ninth against Sacramento closer Jamey Wright. Down 4-1, Craig Cooper and Anthony Contreras led off with singles before Chris Stewart drove in one with a double down the left-field line. Craig Stansberry followed with an RBI single and three batters later, Cedric Hunter plated the tying run with a groundout.
Corey Wimberly hit his second homer and stole his league-leading 34th base for the River Cats, who won three-of-four in the series and enter the All-Star break just three games behind first-place Fresno, who lost in 11 innings at Tacoma on Sunday.
Fernando Hernandez (2-6) pitched around a leadoff walk in the 11th for his second win in his last three outings.
Luis Durango had a season-high four hits and stole his team-leading 28th base while Contreras went 3-for-5 with two runs scored for Portland.
Heether started the scoring with a two-run double in the second inning and came around to score on Jared Price’s RBI single.
Durango’s seventh-inning RBI single was matched by Wimberly’s solo homer off the right-field foul pole in the bottom of the seventh.
Tyson Ross pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings in his first outing since being optioned from the River Cats’ parent Oakland club.
Cesar Carrillo threw seven innings and gave up four runs (3 earned) on nine hits and two walks.
The Pacific Coast League takes a three-day hiatus for the All-Star break, starting Monday. The 2010 Triple-A All-Star Game will be played at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, Pa., on Wednesday at 4:05 p.m. (Pacific). The Beavers return to Portland on Thursday to host Colorado Springs then Reno on an eight-game homestand.
NOTES: Tolleson extended his hitting streak to 14 games with an 11th-inning single … Russell is 0-4 against Sacramento this season … Sean Kazmar extended his hitting streak to seven games for the Beavers … Portland outhit Sacramento 13-12.
Beavers Game File
SUNDAY’S GAME: Sacramento 5, Beavers 4 (11 innings)
WINNING PITCHER: Hernandez (2-6)
LOSING PITCHER: Russell (3-7)
SAVE: None
HOME RUNS: Wimberly (2)
THURSDAY’S GAME: Colorado Springs (Greg Smith: 1-2, 4.91) at Portland (TBA), 7:05 p.m. (Pacific); live audio broadcast on Freedom 970 AM and www.portlandbeavers.com. Follow the Beavers on Twitter (www.twitter.com/PortlandBeavers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/OfficialPortlandBeavers).
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Rob Morse
Assistant, Media Relations
Portland Beavers / Portland Timbers
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