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SUNNY Temp: 92 °F Wind: W at 9 mph Friday, August 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend June 28, 2003 Quick-strike RiverDogs ease by Angels By KRIS HENRY Mail Tribune Falling behind 3-0 after the first half of an inning wasn’t the start the Southern Oregon RiverDogs wanted Friday night at Miles Field. Stepping in against 6-foot-4 San Francisco Angels fireballer John Herbert didn’t look like a promising venture, either, after he got two quick outs in the bottom of the first. But a walk drawn by Bill Rowe provided some hope, a single by Brent Foster broke the ice and then a first-pitch, three-run homer by John Jefferson breathed new life into the RiverDogs. Southern Oregon (11-6) tacked on five more runs in the second, highlighted by a two-run homer by Steve DeClerck, to take an 8-3 lead, and the RiverDogs held on from there for an 8-6 victory. Advertisement The two teams will go at it again in a 1 p.m. doubleheader today. Pitcher Matt Skundrick picked up the complete-game victory Friday, striking out seven while getting the most run support he’s seen all season. "We came out ready to hit, and that was nice and refreshing to see," said Skundrick, who improved to 2-2. "It let me relax a bit and not try too hard. That run support really makes it easier out there." For Jefferson’s part, he said he simply was trying to atone for committing one of the RiverDogs’ two errors in the first that put Skundrick in a hole. "It felt like one of the better hits I’ve ever had just because I’d let the team down with my defense in the first inning," Jefferson said of his second-ever homer. "I try to take as much pride as I can in my defense, and when it’s not there, you’ve got to get it from somewhere." Although he was pleased with his second chance to hold down San Francisco (30-7), Skundrick said it meant more to him that Jefferson was the one providing the big blast. "The first inning for me is usually not the best, so I don’t worry too much about it because I trust these guys," said the right-hander. "If anything, I was happy for John to get that error out of his head and get him fired up again. "That was a huge turning point," Skundrick added. "I don’t know where we’re at if he doesn’t hit that ball." Brent Foster led the RiverDogs’ 13-hit parade by going 4-for-5 with two runs scored. Phil Ouellette added two hits and an RBI to extend his hitting streak to 15 games, while teammate Dan Bruce also had two hits and a run scored. Bruce got things going in the second inning when he smacked a one-out single. DeClerck then belted a 2-1 pitch off the scoreboard in left-center field for a two-run homer. After Derrick Draper was hit by a pitch, Rowe and Foster put together back-to-back singles to load the bases. A wild pitch plated Draper, and Jefferson was hit by a pitch to load the bases again for Ouellette, who came through with an RBI single. Chuck Shine capped the five-run surge with an RBI single. San Francisco chipped away with single runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings, but Skundrick was unfazed in gaining his first victory at Miles Field this summer. San Francisco ..................... 301 011 000 — 6 7 0 Southern Oregon ............. 350 000 00X — 8 13 4 Herbert, Aguire (8) and Shannon; Skundrick and Shine. W — Skundrick (2-2). L — Herbert. 2B — SF: Mukuno, Contreras. 3B — SO: Foster. HR — SO: Jefferson (2), DeClerck (1). Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times