Home Runs Propel Oklahoma City to Win over Portland

Originally Published: May 22, 2010 12:2 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

PORTLAND, Oregon -- The RedHawks’ bats came alive to snap their five-game losing streak with a 9-3 win over Portland Friday.

Oklahoma City (22-19) overcame a 3-0 deficit with a grand slam by Ryan Garko in the top of the fourth after only two runners reached base in the previous three innings.

The Beavers (18-23) took the lead in the first inning on a Craig Cooper RBI single to left field to bring Luis Durango home. In the bottom of the second, Sean Kazmar singled to left field to bring Craig Stansberry home and push the lead to 2-0. In the next at-bat, Mike Baxter hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring Chris Stewart home.

In the top of the fourth, Oklahoma City loaded the bases with back-to-back singles by Chris Davis and Chad Tracy and a Brandon Boggs walk. In the next at-bat, Garko cleared the bases with his grand slam.

The RedHawks added four more in the top of the fifth, one on a wild pitch and three on a three-run bomb by Kevin Richardson to push the lead to 8-3.

Richardson’s home run ended Will Inman’s (2-2) day for Portland and netted him a loss after giving up five hits and four earned runs in 4.2 innings pitched. Willie Eyre (2-3) received a win for Oklahoma City for his two innings of service. Eyre gave up just one hit in his outing.

The RedHawks added one more in the top of the sixth on a Tracy RBI single to right field to score Esteban German.

The series will continue Saturday at 9:05 p.m. in Portland.