Portland runs by Stingers

PORTLAND — The old adage "speed kills" was never more evident in Portland Friday night as the Beavers edged the Salt Lake Stingers, 10-8.

Portland built a 10-3 lead after five innings due, in part, to Freddy Guzman and Kerry Robinson at the top of the batting order. Guzman, who leads the PCL with 45 stolen bases, had three steals that led to three runs, and Robinson added three steals and two runs scored.

Salt Lake trailed 10-4 going into the ninth, but two run homers by Adam Riggs and Dallas McPherson pulled the Stingers to within two runs, but Marty McLeary retired the last two batters for his 11th save of the season.

Jake Woods (5-3) struggled for the second straight start, as he allowed seven runs on 10 hits and walked five in just 3 2/3 innings.

Xavier Nady led the Beavers with three hits, including a two-run homer in the fifth inning, and five RBIs, while former Stinger Jose Nieves had three hits and two RBIs for Portland, which moved into first place in the North Division by one-half game over Tacoma, which lost 8-0 to Edmonton.

Starter Tim Stauffer (6-1) picked up the win, as he gave up three runs on four hits in five innings.

Adam Riggs had a huge night for the Stingers as he became the seventh player to hit three home runs in a game. His first landed on the street outside PGE Park and bounced off a building across the street on the first hop. Brian Gordon, who also hit three homers in a game this season, had an inside-the-park home run.

NOTES: The win for Portland was the Beavers' 10th in 13 games against Salt Lake this season. Last year, the Stingers won 12 of 16 versus the Beavers . . . Riggs extended his hitting streak to nine games with his three homers Friday night. During the streak, Riggs has gone 20-for-37 with five home runs and 15 RBIs.