Spokane Indians pound Yakima Bears

YAKIMA – The Spokane Indians scored six runs – all of them with two out – in the seventh inning en route to a 13-3 victory over the Yakima Bears in Northwest League baseball Thursday.

Michael Olt, Santiago Chirino and Brett Nicholas each had three RBIs for Spokane, which finished with 15 hits and improved to 15-13 in the second half. Yakima (18-10) holds a three-game lead over the Indians in the East Division’s second-half standings. Spokane already clinched a playoff spot by winning the first-half title.

The Indians scored in each of the first three innings, jumping out to a 6-1 lead. After the Bears closed the deficit to 6-3, Spokane essentially put the game away with the big seventh inning.

With two out and Kellin Deglan on second base in the seventh, seven consecutive Indians reached base. Jacob Skole’s single put runners on first and second, and Olt drove them both home with his 14th double of the season.

Alejandro Selen and Andrew Clark followed with walks to load the bases. Chirino’s single drove in two runs. Nicholas followed with another two-run single, and Jurickson Profar – who grounded out leading off the inning – doubled before Deglan grounded out to end the inning.

Spokane starter Tim Stanford allowed two runs on five hits over four innings. Five Indians relievers held the Bears to one run on three hits the rest of the way.

The Indians and Bears conclude their three-game series tonight at 7:05.