Greg Peavey went a season-best seven innings as the Beavers beat California 6-2 in Game 2 of the series. The game was played in front of the largest crowd to ever watch a Pac-10 Game at newly remodeled Goss Stadium at Coleman Field-- 2,790 fans attended the game.
The Golden Bears struck first in the game when leadoff hitter Brett Jackson took Greg Peavey deep over the left field wall on the second pitch of the game, but it was all Oregon State from that point on.
"We had faced each other five or six times in the Cape Cod league over the summer," Peavey said of the jackson. "He showed that he'd seen me before," Peavey said after the game.
In the bottom of the second, the Beavers got two quick baserunners in Stefen Romero and Jared Norris. Romero was hit by pitch, and Norris walked. Rob Folsom loaded the bases with an infield single, then Michael Miller drove in two with a single to center field.
Oregon State center fielder John Wallace had a 2-RBI single of his own, coming a few batters later to right center field. Both Folsom and John Tommasini scored on the hit, giving the Beavers a 4-1 lead.
Cal added another run in the top of the fourth, when Jeff Kobernus was driven in from third by Brian Guinn.
Peavey, who went a season-best seven innings in the game, gave up just four hits and two runs in the game. He walked just two batters and struck out seven along the way.
Peavey said after the game that he was working hard on getting ahead of hitters in the count with a first pitch strike.
"Just getting strike one is the difference between a good outing and a great outing," said Peavey.
Kraig Sitton came on in relief of Peavey in the seventh inning. Sitton went two perfect innings without giving up a hit, striking out two Golden Bears in the process.
John Tommasini's double down the left field line in the sixth inning scored Ryan Ortiz and Michael Miller, adding two insurance runs for the Beavers, who held a 6-2 lead from the sixth inning on.
With the win, the Beavers move to 17-6 on the season and 4-1 in the Pac-10. Yesterday and today's wins give the Beavers their second Pac-10 series victory of the year, but there is still work to do tomorrow, when Jorge Reyes will start on the mound.
"We're happy that we won the series," said Peavey, "but we realize that our job isn't done. We're going to come back ready tomorrow."
Game three of the series is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at Goss Stadium. The Beavers and Bears had great baseball weather today, yet tomorrow's is supposed to be even better.
--Jake (jake.buildingthedam@gmail.com)