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

Dewey’s Big Night Puts Tribe On Shelf

Dewey’s decimals are the latest success story in the Boise system.

Catcher Jason Dewey did nothing to hurt his numbers - .342 batting average, .441 on-base percentage and .532 slugging percentage - by driving in three runs with a homer and double Saturday in the Hawks’ tense 7-6 victory over the Spokane Indians.

Boise (19-6) took a one-game lead over Spokane (18-7) in the Northwest League’s North Division. The Hawks have won four straight games and 14 of 17.

Dewey, a Floridian signed by eight-year Hawks manager Tom Kotchman, was the major force in Saturday’s rally from a 4-0 deficit. He homered to lead off the seventh inning, then added a two-run double in the eighth to give Boise a 5-4 edge.

“From the time we first came into camp, this team meshed well,” Dewey said. “The tradition at Boise (four NWL titles since 1991) is hard to live up to.”

Trailing 7-4 after 8-1/2 innings, the Indians nearly gave the Seafirst Stadium season-high crowd of 7,215 a thrilling sendoff.

The Indians loaded the bases with one out against Hawks closer Bo Donaldson. Juan LeBron’s double to left-center scored two, but pinch-runner Francisco Bautista missed manager Jeff Garber’s hold up sign at third in time. Bautista slipped between third and home and was tagged after a rundown.

Pinch-hitter Rod Metzler then struck out to end the game. Donaldson, who aggravated a hamstring injury, was helped from the field.

The middle game of the three-game series is also Spokane’s first afternoon start. Spokane’s Jordy Alexander (2-2, 5.27) is scheduled to start against Steve Fish (1-0, 3.21) at 3:05 p.m. today.

“Spokane’s the best team we’ve faced,” Dewey said. “I can’t wait for (Sunday).”

Dewey’s homer off Tribe starter Kris Wilson was his fifth, second in the NWL behind the seven of Indians left fielder Dermal Brown.

“The ball carries pretty well here,” said Dewey, 20, who played earlier this year for Indian River (Fla.) Junior College. “I put decent wood on it … and it started to spark the team.”

Kotchman, who scouts Florida talent for the Anaheim Angels, needs 29 wins to become the alltime winner (367) among NWL managers.

Spokane reached Hawks starter Joseph Gangemi for a 4-0 lead after five. The top part of the batting order, Goefrey Tomlinson, Joe Caruso and Brown, scored all four runs and drove in three.

Brown finished 4 for 5, with two RBIs, to improve his league-leading totals to .416 and 34. Caruso, 3 for 5, is 13 for his last 24 (.542). Boise battered relievers Donald Quigley (3-1) and Aaron Carter in the eighth for four runs on five hits. Two runs scored on wild pitches, as did the Hawks’ run in the ninth. “Being in this atmosphere was intimidating, to tell you the truth,” Dewey said.

Notes

Boise played without shortstop Nelson Castro, one of the league’s top prospects. He sprained his knee Friday against Everett and may not play in the series. Castro, hitting .337, is No. 2 in the league in stolen bases (13), hits (32) and runs (27). … Indians pitching coach Steve Crawford said Todd Meady (2-0, 1.40) will replace Eric Yanz (0-2, 11.85) in the starting rotation, beginning Tuesday at Everett. Yanz has shoulder stiffness… . Crawford also said pitcher Ken Fitzpatrick is one week away from returning from reconstructive elbow surgery and pitcher Jamie Burton (shoulder injury) should return a week later.

, DataTimes