During the eight-game homestand that concluded on Monday, they certainly did that. Portland’s 7-1 record over four-game sets against Oklahoma City and New Orleans matched the team’s best mark for an eight-game homestand since the Beavers returned to the Pacific Coast League in 2001.

Portland, which began an eight-game trip to Omaha and Iowa on Tuesday, has won eight of nine and at 15-14 is above .500 for the first time since starting the season 3-2.

The wins were in large part a result of the bats heating up producing timely hitting.

The Beavers raised their team batting average 11 points over the last week to .274.

Great week for Gerut

Leading the offensive improvement was outfielder Jody Gerut, who was named by the PCL as its batter of the week for April 28-May 4.

Gerut batted .462 (12-for-26) with four home runs, two doubles, five walks, seven RBI. He scored 13 runs and produced a 1.000 slugging percentage in seven games played during the week. Further, Gerut is 22-for-47 (.468) over his last 13 games to raise his average from .192 to .323.

Gerut is the first Portland player to garner a PCL weekly award since outfielder Terrmel Sledge was the PCL batter of the week Aug. 14-20, 2006. He celebrated Monday’s announcement by knocking in the game-winning run in the 12th inning of Monday night’s homestand capping 5-4 win over New Orleans.

In 25 games with Portland this season, Gerut is batting .323 (32-for-99) with eight doubles, two triples, five home runs, 13 walks, 22 runs scored, four stolen bases and 17 RBI.

San Diego bound?

There is speculation in the San Diego media that Gerut’s hot streak will earn him a promotion to the Padres soon, perhaps this week.

Another Beaver who could be headed to San Diego soon is Shawn Estes. Estes, a veteran left-hander who is 4-2 with a .367 earned run average for Portland, can become a free again May 15 if he isn’t on the Padres’ 25-man roster.

San Diego is also searching to find a long-term solution for its fifth starting pitcher, though Estes’ roll could be in the bull pen for the Padres’

Around the horn

Outfielder Chase Headley raised his batting average 42 points to .268 with 11 hits last week.

Craig Stansberry, who struggled out of the gate this season, took a five-game hitting streak into Tuesday’s game at Omaha. He had seven hits, including two home runs, knocking in seven runs and scoring six.

Marshall McDougall had hits in six consecutive games through Monday, raising his average to .295.

Chip Ambres raised his average from .239 to .280 with nine hits last week.

In Monday’s 5-4 win over New Orleans, the Beavers stranded 17 base-runners, the most runners left on base since the team returned to Portland in 2001.

Coming attractions

The Beavers return home on May 15 to begin a stretch where they play 16 of 20 games at home. In fact, by the time that homstand ends on June 3, the Beavers will have played half of their home games this season. The team has only 11 home games during June and just nine in July. They do play at home 19 times in August.