Hever Bueno, Joe Barlow combine on two-hitter as Spokane Indians shut out Everett
EVERETT – Hever Bueno and Joe Barlow combined on a two-hitter and the Spokane Indians shut out the Everett AquaSox 5-0 in the first of a three-game Northwest League series at Everett Memorial Stadium on Friday.
The Indians have won three in a row and are 4-1 – leading the North Division – in the second half.
Bueno started and pitched 4 1/3 shutout innings, allowing one hit and three walks with five strikeouts. Barlow went the rest of the way, allowing one hit and no walks with six strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings. Barlow ran his record to 4-0 – all out of the bullpen.
The Indians (20-23 overall) started their scoring in the third. Miguel Aparicio led off with a single to left and after Tyler Ratliff lined out, Aparicio went to third on a double by Melvin Novoa, his eighth of the season.
Austin O’Banion struck out but Matt Whatley delivered, singling to left field to drive in both runners.
Meanwhile Bueno – in his first start for Spokane after joining the team this week – was solid, setting down Everett in order in the first and third innings, while allowing a lone single in the second.
Bueno got into a bit of hot water in the fourth, walking two with two down, before retiring David Banuelos on a fly ball to right. He issued another walk to start the fifth, but struck out Troy Dixon before being replaced by Barlow. Barlow picked up a double play to end the inning.
Bueno spent the first part of the season with the Texas Rangers’ Arizona Rookie League team, compiling a 2-1 record with 3.94 ERA in five games, two of which were starts, with 18 strikeouts over 16 innings pitched. Bueno was a 2016 ninth round pick of the Rangers out of Arizona State and is in his first full season returning from Tommy John surgery.
Ratliff, who along with starter Cole Ragans will represent the Indians as an NWL All-Star on Tuesday, smacked his third homer of the season in the sixth, a solo shot to make it 3-0 – his second in as many games.
The Indians rallied in the seventh as well. O’Banion led off with a double and scored on Whatley’s ground-ball single to left. Cristian Inoa reached on an error by Everett’s second baseman and after a double play moved Whatley to third, he scored on a line-drive single by Yonny Hernandez.
Everett starter Andres Torres gave up two runs on seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts over four innings and took the loss.
Aparicio finished 3 for 5 to up his season average to .296. Novoa and Whatley had a pair of hits apiece.
Novoa extended his hitting streak to 17 games, the longest for the Indians since LeDarious Clark hit in 18 straight games near the start of the 2015 season.
The teams meet again on Saturday in Everett at 7:05 p.m.