Gerrard lights up offense

Spokane Indians outfielder Grant Gerrard was awarded Spokane’s NAPA Hit Sign Award last week.

The award is given to an Indians player who totals four hits in a game. Gerrard had four hits on both July 4 and 6, when he stepped into Craig Gentry’s leadoff shoes while Gentry was out with a sore back.

Gentry rejoined the lineup Wednesday and Thursday against the Everett AquaSox, but he was taken out after two at-bats on Friday night, joining Gerrard (groin injury) on the bench.

“(Gentry) wasn’t moving as well on Friday as he was on Thursday,” Spokane manager Mike Micucci said.

Spokane will face Everett in the final game of the five-game series today at 6:30 p.m. Spokane will then take to road, beginning a five-game series Monday against Vancouver.

Everett, which is affiliated with the Seattle Mariners, has a roster that is represented by eight different countries, including the Netherlands, Taiwan and Australia.

Hello, goodbye

The Indians have gained some new faces to the lineup, but also lost a couple.

Brian Nelson was dropped down to the parent club Texas Rangers’ Arizona Rookie League team. Nelson was hitting .219 with Spokane, but has been batting .500 (6 for 12) with Arizona.

Spokane’s Johnny Washington has been moved up to the Class A Bakersfield Blaze of the California League.

Outfielder Joe Napoli and infielder Joey Hooft have joined the Indians this week.

Napoli moved up from the Arizona League, where he was batting .308. He is hitting .125 for Spokane, but had a three-run triple during Friday’s game against Everett.

Hooft came down from the Clinton LumberKings of the Midwest League, where he had been 0 for 14.

Around the NWL

David Freese of the Eugene Emeralds was named the Northwest League offensive player of the week for the week ending July 9 after hitting .636 (7 for 11) with six runs, three doubles, two home runs and 10 runs batted in. Freese went 4 for 4 against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes with a homer, seven RBIs and two runs on July 3. … Cesar Valdez of the Yakima Bears received pitcher of the week honors for his 2-0 record and 0.75 earned run average in 12 innings. Valdez lost his first three starts of the season, but has won the last two with 10 strikeouts and one earned run. … Cyle Hankerd, Yakima’s third-round outfielder out of the University of Southern California, was having tough luck at the plate early in the season. He eliminated what he called a “true leg kick,” pushed his average as high as .380 and is hitting .347. It’s believed Hankerd adjusted to a style of one his favorite major leaguers, Albert Pujols, who lifts his front foot but keeps his toe on the ground.