Indians ride Emerson Martinez to win over Canadians

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Emerson Martinez fired five shutout innings in his best performance of the young season and the Spokane Indians posted a 3-0 victory over the Vancouver Canadians in Northwest League play on Wednesday.

Martinez (1-2) allowed just three hits and a pair of walks with four strikeouts to notch his first win of the campaign.

Martinez, who had given up 10 earned runs in his first two starts covering 5 1/3 innings, got the only run he would need in the top of the first inning.

LaDarious Clark greeted Canadians starter Jon Harris with a leadoff double to hike his hitting streak to 12 games. After a one-out walk and Jamie Potts promptly lined a single to left field to score Clark.

That was the game’s only run until Spokane scored twice in the top of the seventh for much-needed breathing room.

Diego Cedeno singled to open the seventh, stole second, and scored on a double by Ti’Quan Forbes. Yeyson Vrizarri singled home Forbes and that was the ballgame thanks to stellar efforts from Indians relievers Jeffrey Springs – 2 1/3 innings, three strikeouts – and Dario Beltre, who got the final five outs for his first save.

Spokane is 4-2 on its current road trip, 7-7 overall.