Indians drop 4th straight
The Spokane Indians can’t seem to shake out of a funk.
Led by a three-run homer from Juan Olivares and a solid start by Chris Kemlo, the visiting Yakima Bears handed the Indians their fourth consecutive loss on Wednesday, 6-2 in front of 3,355 at Avista Stadium.
Olivares’ first home run of the season capped a four-run third inning that gave the Bears a five-run lead.
In the inning, Brett Zamzow, who struck out eight in four innings, hit the leadoff batter then gave up a single to put runners at the corners. A groundout by catcher Josh Ford scored Derek Bruce from third and moved Trey Hendricks to second.
Two runners later, after a single by Jaen Centeno, Olivares sent an inside fastball by Zamzow over the left-field wall to make it 5-0 on five hits.
“We can’t escape the big inning,” said Spokane manager Greg Riddoch. “The big inning killed us.”
Zamzow, who leads the team with 26 strikeouts, took his second loss of the season and remains winless in five starts.
Kemlo, who had a shutout through five innings, held Spokane to two runs on seven hits in six innings to improve to 2-1.
Steve Murphy ruined Kemlo’s bid for a shutout in the sixth with a two-run home run that scored K.C. Herren and extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
“I think the team is in a funk right now,” said Murphy, who went 3 for 4 with two singles and his fifth home run.
“Voodoo or something,” he jokingly said might help. “Just like when a player goes in a funk, the team is in a funk right now.”
After committing eight errors and walking 10 in a series at Tri-City, the Indians added another error and walked two runners that accounted for two of Yakima’s runs.
“It just ain’t real pretty,” Riddoch said. “The last four games have been real ugly.”
The error, committed by Joey Hooft in the second inning, allowed Ramon Downing to score from second and made it 1-0 Bears.
Downing, who went 2 for 4 with a triple, double and two runs, scored the Bears’ sixth run on a single by Chris Rahl. Downing led off the ninth inning with a triple of off reliever Juan Maldonado.
Notes
During the streak, Spokane’s Steve Murphy is batting .511 (24 for 47) and has homered three times while driving in 16 runs. … Avista Stadium will be turned into a “Field of Dreams” as the 1989 classic will be shown following the game on Friday. The concession stands will remain open and free popcorn will be given to those at the viewing. Later in the season, “The Rookie” and “A League of Their Own” will also be shown. … The three-game series will continue tonight and Friday. Spokane heads to Everett on Saturday for a five-game series.