Portland Shuts Out Ducks, 4-0

Friday, March 20

Portland, Ore.

7:00 PM

University of Oregon

8-9

Portland

13-7

Oregon

Portland

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

03/21/09 | Baseball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

PORTLAND, Ore. - Freshman left-hander Tyler Anderson dealt 12 strikeouts over five innings of work, but a three-run inning for Portland in the third made the difference as the Pilots shut out Oregon 4-0 on Friday night at PGE Park in game 3 of the inaugural Rose City Invitational.

Anderson set a new Oregon (8-9) season high with his 12 strikeouts, but the damage in the third proved too much for the Ducks' bats to overcome.

With Portland (13-7) starter Scott Burris on the mound, Oregon failed to disturb the sophomore lefty as he remained undefeated at 4-0 on the year. The Ducks were shut out for the first time this season, and held to a season-low tying three hits.

Burris pitched six innings of shutout baseball, allowing just three base runners on two hits and one walk.

In the third, Portland designated hitter Beau Fraser laced a two-run single back up the middle under the glove of Anderson to put the Pilots on the scoreboard.

Anderson had struck out six of eight batters through two innings before walking Garrett Queen to lead off the third. A little small ball moved Queen around the bases as Kris Kauppila placed a slow roller down the first baseline to sacrifice Queen to second. Armijo followed Kauppila with a single through the left side, putting runners at the corners, before Armijo stole second to place both runners in scoring position for Fraser.

Fraser's drive to center got Queen home safely, and Armijo slid under the tag of Oregon catcher Mitch Karraker to reach home plate safely.

The Pilots added a third run after an error and hit batter put Bryant Kraus and Cort Carpenter on the bags, loading the bases and setting up Riley Henricks' sacrifice fly to right field allowing Fraser to score.

In the top of the sixth Oregon had the tying run at the plate in designated hitter Paul Eshleman with Caleb Tommasini at second and Dylan Gavin at first, but the freshman sent a chopper down the first baseline that was fielded by Carpenter. Oregon also had two runners on in the third but reliever Zach Varce struck out pinch hitter Colby Sokol to end the inning.

Anderson (1-2) took the loss for Oregon allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits.

Geoff Nichols replaced Anderson in the sixth after Henricks doubled to deep center and Austin Pearce singled off the rookie lefty. Nichols, a 6-foot-5 right-hander appeared to pick up his second out in the sixth when Queen hit a grounder, but the play was called off, and Nichols was charged with a balk as Henricks was given home plate for Portland's fourth run.

Varce pitched the final three innings to earn his fourth save of the season for Portland.

The Ducks return to PGE Park tomorrow to play Washington in a non-conference match up at 11 a.m. The game is scheduled to be broadcast by the Oregon Sports Network on Comcast 37. Oregon will then play Hawai'i at 2:30 p.m.

Hawai'i defeated Washington, 9-7, in 10 innings in game 1 of the tournament, while Portland handed the ?Bows a 13-2 loss in game 2.

Notes: Eddy Rodriguez missed his second straight game and is currently out 3-4 weeks with a right knee sprain...Erik Stavert and Bennett Whitmore held the previous season high for strikeouts with 10...Whitmore had 10 at Saint Mary's on Feb. 21, and Stavert totaled 10 vs. Santa Clara back on March 6...Oregon's 16 strikeouts broke the team's previous season high of 12 vs. Santa Clara on March 6...the Ducks are now 0-2 in night games this season.