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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Hope Springs for Spokane Indians

The Spokane Indians may not have an official closer, but they want a chance to get left-hander Jeffrey Springs into as many games as they can. Read game story

Indians manager Tim Hulett wanted to summon Springs during Thursday's game, but reliever Dario Beltre couldn't hold a 3-2 lead after he entered the game in the seventh inning.

Springs also wasn't an option on Friday after Spokane fell behind Eugene 4-0 in the second inning and lost 7-0.

But on Saturday, Nick Green pitched effectively for the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, allowing Springs to enter in the ninth. It wasn't a save situation -- and Springs created slight trouble with a one-out walk and single -- but a strikeout and groundout capped Spokane's 4-0 victory.

"Green came in and had a couple of nice innings there for us, which is what we've needed -- that guy to get us to Springs," Hulett said. "(Springs) hadn't pitched in four day and it showed a little bit. He looked rusty."

Springs lowered his earned-run average to 2.57 in his 11th appearance. In his previous two outings, he picked up the win last Monday with two hitless innings and he earned a hold on July 22 after striking out five in three innings.



Chris Derrick
Chris Derrick joined The Spokesman-Review in 1990. He currently is a copy editor for the Sports Desk.

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