Blood Tough With Indians

Darin Blood certainly knows his way around Spokane.

The Post Falls native and Gonzaga University product also knows his way around the Spokane Indians’ batting order.

On Wednesday, for the third time this Northwest League season, Blood handcuffed Indians hitters for six innings in Bellingham’s 2-1 victory. Blood, 2-0 against Spokane and 6-3 overall, allowed three hits and no earned runs and struck out eight.

Blood has allowed 13 hits and two earned runs in 18 innings against Spokane. He struck out 17.

The Giants (43-39) won their season series against the Indians 7-5, including all six games in Bellingham. Spokane (33-39) lost a chance to finish better than .500 and slipped into a Northern Division second-place tie with Everett.

Steve Prihoda (1-6) became the first Spokane pitcher to throw a complete game. Prihoda allowed no hits in the first three innings and retired eight consecutive batters in the late going.

Bellingham reached Prihoda in the fourth, scoring twice on singles by Jon Watson, Deivi Cruz, Dan Topping and Pedro Felix.

Off reliever Phillip Bailey in the eighth, Spokane’s Patrick Hallmark had an infield single and scored after a groundout and two errors. Jim Stoops pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his fourth save.

The Indians’ James Vida went 1 for 3 and still leads the league with a .330 batting average.

Spokane returns home at 7:05 tonight for a nationally televised (ESPN2) game against Yakima.