Braden silences Portland's bats

By Martin McNeal - mmcneal@sacbee.com

Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C3

The River Cats probably couldn't have drawn a pre-game outline much sweeter than what unfolded on the field in their 5-3 victory Monday night over the Portland Beavers before an announced crowd of 7,487 at Raley Field.

Left-handed starter Dallas Braden allowed five hits and one run in eight innings. Braden, who improved to 3-0, struck out 10 Beavers and didn't walk a batter while throwing just 92 pitches (65 strikes).

Designated hitter Wes Bankston continued hitting on a torrid pace with two hits in four at-bats, including a line-drive two-run homer in the seventh that scored Cliff Pennington for the runs that proved to be the victory margin.

Catcher Landon Powell handled Braden behind the plate and also took advantage of an opportunity presented in the third by Portland manager Randy Ready. Shortstop Gregorio Petit singled to lead off the inning, and one out later Travis Buck doubled him to third. Bankston struck out, but Ready opted to load the bases by intentionally walking cleanup hitter Casey Rogowski.

That brought up Powell, who entered the game batting .203.

"I can understand what the manager was thinking," Powell said. "I'm batting in the low .200s. But I was standing in the on-deck circle thinking that I'm not really a .200 hitter. I had a lot of confidence."

Powell pulled a double down the right-field line to clear the bases for a 3-0 lead.

"It got in on my hands," he said.

Powell was a little surprised to get a fastball from starter and loser Justin Germano.

"In my first at-bat, he threw me a couple of waffle balls," Powell said, describing Germano changeups. "Those balls (seemed to) stop in the air and then start back up again."

Braden gave up a solo homer on a 2-0 fastball to lead off the fourth, but said he was not troubled in the least.

"That was a fastball that came back over the middle (of the plate)," Braden said.

Bankston's night gave him 15 hits in his past 46 at-bats (.327), and he has hit six homers and driven in 15 runs during his past 11 games.

"When I was struggling a little while back, I was thinking too much and trying to do too many things," Bankston said.

"We've been doing some things with hitting coach (Brian McArn) and they've helped me keep my hands in hitting position and my balance right."

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Braden silences Portland's bats

By Martin McNeal - mmcneal@sacbee.com

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