Bevos go into home opener with an experienced lineup

The Portland Tribune, Apr 13, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009

The Portland Beavers kick off their seventh home campaign since rejoining the Pacific Coast League at 7 Friday at PGE Park. The homestand has four games against Fresno and four against Sacramento.

Portland is 3-3 in home openers since 2001 and a 234-189 record at PGE Park in the past six seasons; not including a 2-6 home stint at Pasco, Wash., in 2001.

The team: The Bevos have been built on pitching and veterans — the opening-day lineup last week had an average age of 27 years old. … The two hot prospects for the parent San Diego Padres are middle infielder Luis Cruz, 23, and pitcher Cesar Carrillo, 22, who is scheduled to pitch tonight. … Outfielder Jack Cust and pitcher Tim Stauffer are the only two Bevos from last year’s opening roster. Both got off to slow starts —Cust went 0 for 17 before getting a hit, and Stauffer allowed seven runs in two innings of relief. … Welcome manager Rick Renteria, whose approach can be described in one word: positive. … Top hitters have been Royce Huffman, Craig Stansberry, Oscar Robles, Luke Carlin and Brent Dowdy; Stansberry had a seven-game hitting streak to start the season. … The starting rotation will be Carrillo (tonight), Justin Germano (2 p.m. Saturday), Jack Cassel (2 p.m. Sunday), Ryan Ketchner (11 a.m. Monday).

Big screen: The Daktronics high-definition screen, 13 feet high by 26 feet wide, is mounted in right field. There will be player interviews, but no replays at the start.

— Jason Vondersmith

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