Brown’s Blast Lifts Tribe Brown’s 440-Foot Home Run Gives Indians 9th Win In A Row

Bring on the next No. 1 draft selection to try to slow down the Spokane Indians and their No. 1 draftee, Dermal Brown.

Left-hander Chris Enochs, drafted No. 1 by the Oakland Athletics last month, couldn’t stop Spokane (14-3) from winning its ninth consecutive Northwest League game, a 9-4 decision Thursday over Southern Oregon.

Enochs gave up eight hits and three runs in 3-2/3 innings, including Brown’s RBI single in the third. He was in line for the loss until the Timberjacks (9-7) tied the game at 4 in the fifth inning.

Timberjacks reliever Luis Vizcaino (0-3) opened the sixth by walking Joe Caruso and giving up Rod Metzler’s bloop single. Lefty Rico Lagattuta came on to face left-handed Brown, who blasted a 440-foot, three-run homer on a 0-2 pitch to fuel Spokane’s 10th comeback win.

Brown, who finished 3 for 5, is 21 for his last 39 and leads the NWL with six homers and 22 RBIs. The Kansas City Royals’ No. 1 selection of last year has homered in the last three games. The league short-season (76 games) record for homers is 25, set by Central Oregon’s William Darkis in 1980.

During the week, Spokane also won two games started by Everett’s Gil Meche, the Seattle Mariners’ No. 1 selection of last year.

Spokane is off to the best franchise start since 1914, a 14-4 record. The 1911 Indians started 17-3 but didn’t win the pennant. Spokane of 1970, named in one poll as the top minor-league team in history, began 14-5.

The Indians retained a two-game lead over Boise (12-5) in the North Division after the Hawks beat South Division-leading Portland 7-1. Spokane is 6-3 on the road and 8-3 vs. the South.

Thursday’s other hero, Donald Quigley (3-0), pitched 4-2/3 innings of no-hit ball in relief. Quigley, who retired the final nine, has pitched 8-2/3 innings of consecutive no-hit ball since June 25.

Spokane starter Justin Pedersen lasted 4-1/3 innings, striking out six. He has fanned 24 in 13-1/3 innings.

The second game of the five-game series is tonight with right-hander Eric Yanz (0-1) scheduled to make his fourth start for Spokane. Lefty Eric DuBose is set to start for the Timberjacks.

Indians 9, Timberjacks 4

Spokane S. Oregon

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Tomlinson cf 5 1 2 0 Clifton cf 3 1 1 2

Metzler lf 5 1 2 0 Lara ss 3 1 0 0

DBrown dh 5 1 3 4 Koerner lf 4 0 1 1

Blosser 1b 5 2 2 0 Piatt 3b 4 0 0 0

LeBron rf 4 0 1 0 Farris rf 3 0 0 0

Willis 3b 3 1 1 0 Flores c 4 0 1 0

Montas ss 3 1 2 0 Sosa 1b 4 1 0 0

Ullery c 5 0 0 0 Figueroa dh 4 0 1 1

Caruso 2b 4 2 1 1 Robinson 2b 3 1 1 0

Totals 39 9 14 5 Totals 32 4 5 4

Spokane 002 113 110 - 9

S. Oregon 110 020 000 - 4

E-Metzler (4), Willis 2 (8), Montas (3), Piatt (4), Lagattuta (1). DP-Spokane 1, Southern Oregon 3. LOB-Spokane 12, Southern Oregon 5. 2B-Figueroa (1). HR-DBrown (6), Clifton (1). SB- Lara (6). CS-DBrown (2), Koerner (3). SF-Clifton.

Spokane IP H R ER BB SO

Pederson 4-1/3 5 4 2 1 6

Quigley W,3-0 4-2/3 0 0 0 1 4 S. Oregon IP H R ER BB SO

Enochs 3-2/3 8 3 3 0 2

Vizcaino L,0-3 1-2/3 3 3 2 3 1

Lagattuta 1-2/3 1 2 1 1 0

Blumenstock 2 2 1 1 2 1

HBP-by Enochs (Willis), by Pederson (Farris), by Lagattuta (Tomlinson), by Blumenstock (LeBron). WP-Pederson, Lagattuta, Blumenstock 2. PB-Ullery, Flores. Balk-Pederson, Quigley.

T-3:20. A-3,789.