Indians Discover Home Run Stroke Hallmark, Paulin Homer In 13-5 Win Over Eugene

The Spokane Indians doubled their home run production on Friday and nearly doubled their top offensive output of the young Northwest League season.

Patrick Hallmark and Randy Paulin homered to lead Spokane to a 13-5 win over the Eugene Emeralds (2-7).

Spokane entered the game with two homers on the season - one by Paulin.

The Indians had scored 24 runs in eight previous games, including a season-best seven runs in a win over Everett on Wednesday.

Spokane, which had scored three or fewer runs in five previous games, put together four three-run innings in Friday’s rout.

The win left Spokane (3-6) tied with Everett for third place in the Northern Division, four games behind Yakima. Spokane won its first road game after three previous tries.

Spokane jumped on Eugene starter P.K. Koehler (0-2) with two out in the first inning. Brett Schafer and William Roland walked before Paulin’s blast cleared the fence in left-center.

Eugene catcher Mike Mahoney responded with a two-run single off Justin Adam (1-1) in the bottom of the first.

Koehler was chased in the second after a leadoff single by James Vida and walks to Scott Kortmeyer and Hallmark. Reliever Tony Mazzone allowed Tony Miranda’s RBI infield single and sacrifice flies by Mark Melito and Roland.

Spokane stretched the lead to 9-2 in the fourth. Hallmark, leading off, homered to left-center for his first professional hit. Miranda singled and later scored on an error, and Roland had an RBI double to right-center.

Adam Finnieston of the Indians singled in a run in the sixth.

Spokane reliever Brian Winders, removed from the starting rotation, allowed Steve Hacker’s basesclearing double in the seventh. Spokane made up for the hit with a three-spot in the ninth - one run scoring on Leon Weathersby’s infield single and the other two on wild pitches.

Adam allowed two hits and two earned runs, and struck out four in five innings.