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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Indians Hold On For Win Brewer Survives Scarey Two Innings To Get Save

The last strike was the hardest to record Wednesday as the Spokane Indians aimed for their first home sweep of the season.

The strike came, albeit in agonizing fashion, and relief pitcher Ryan Brewer was indeed relieved.

Brewer pitched the final three innings of Spokane’s 3-2 Northwest League win over the Everett AquaSox, saving the game for Scott Mullen (3-3). Brewer entered with a 2-1 lead and picked up an insurance run in the seventh.

“We’re a little drained right now,” Brewer said of Spokane’s evaporating pitching staff, which lost another starter Wednesday. “(Pitching coach) Buster (Keeton) told me not to mess up a great thing (done by Mullen).”

Brewer, who earned his second save, breezed through the seventh but found trouble in the eighth and ninth.

The first two AquaSox reached base in the eighth, but David Skeels’ sacrifice attempt came right to Brewer, who recorded a force at third.

Next batter: league home run and runs-batted-in leader Rob Zachmann. Brewer struck out Zachmann, third in the league in hitting, on a 2-2 count.

“I threw a great changeup to him,” Brewer said. “We all see the stats, and that guy can swing the bat a little bit.”

Brewer’s ninth looked uneventful after two quick outs. He had Jason Regan in the hole 0-2, but the Everett third baseman reached out and golfed a homer to right. The next two batters reached base before Brewer whiffed Brian Lindner on a breaking pitch in the dirt.

Everett (23-26) dropped three straight in Spokane and is in trouble of losing second place in the North Division to the Indians.

Spokane (22-27) begins a seven-game road swing tonight, beginning with three games at Yakima. Enrique Calero (1-2, 2.85) is scheduled to start for Spokane tonight.

Notes

Indians right-hander Allen Sanders (5-2, 4.53) was promoted to Class A Lansing (Mich.) of the Midwest League. Sanders was tied for the league lead in wins. …Tribe shortstop Brett Taft apparently pulled a hamstring in the third inning. He was replaced by Kris Didion. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo