Revitalized Tribe Stops Boise Again

The Spokane Indians have become invigorated in the most unlikely place.

The Indians collected a season-best 14 hits Saturday and sent 10 batters to the plate in the second and seventh innings to beat Boise 12-9 in the Northwest League.

When the series began Friday, Spokane (9-16) had dropped 15 of 19 games and Boise (20-5) had won 14 of 15. Now, Spokane has its second two-game winning streak of the year and the Hawks have lost two straight for the first time.

Scott Harp’s two-run double highlighted Spokane’s five-run second off starter Jeremy Blevins (1-2). The Indians increased their lead to 8-0 in the fourth on Kit Pellow’s three-run homer to center field on reliever Aaron Puffer’s first pitch.

Boise scored nine runs from the fourth to the eighth, five off fortunate winner Jake Chapman (3-0).

Yet Spokane held firm with a four-run seventh. Boise outfielder Juan Rodriguez, shifted to first base, had a throwing error to score two runs. Juan Robles added an RBI single and Brandon Berger a bases-loaded walk.

Alonso Aguilar earned his first save by coaxing a bases-loaded groundout in the ninth.

The third game of the four-game series is tonight, with Allen Sanders (2-0, 3.15 ERA) of Spokane set to start against Tommy Darrell (4-0, 1.97).

, DataTimes