Boise cools off sizzling Spokane
Until Wednesday night, every Spokane Indians game at Avista Stadium this Northwest League season had the same outcome: an Indians victory. Eight games, eight wins. The last four wins came against the Boise Hawks, whose losing streak had reached seven after Tuesday's setback. But Boise had the upper hand Wednesday with its pitching and hitting, ruining the Indians' shot at moving closer to the franchise-record 13-1 start set by the 1911 Indians. So Spokane had to "settle" for a 10-1 start and 10-2 current record heading in to a nine-game road trip over the next eight days. Read story
Spokane starting pitcher Derek Thompson (1-2) struggled, allowing seven hits and three earned runs in five innings. He served up a leadoff homer to Jeffrey Baez and a two-run shot to Kevin Brown in the fourth. Thompson has both of Spokane's losses this season.
"Pitching-wise, we didn’t do a good job tonight," Indians manager Tim Hulett said. "We were behind in the count most every hitter all night long."
Reliever Ryan Ledbetter also had a shaky night, allowing four hits and four earned runs in 1 2/3 innings. Before Wednesday, Spokane relievers had allowed nine runs in 45 2/3 innings.
Boise starter Tyler Ihrig said he learned a few things by watching the Indians during the previous four games.
"They’re great hitters," Ihrig said. "You miss up and they’re going to put a good swing on the ball. I missed up a couple of times and they made me pay for it."
But after allowing Zach Cone's one-out double in the fourth, Ihrig retired 11 of the final 12 Indians he faced. The exception was a fielding error by shortstop Guiseppe Papaccio in the sixth.
"I love the Pacific Northwest," said Ihrig, of Monroe, Washington. "I’ve pitched here my whole life so I feel right at home."
A couple of Spokane highlights:
In the third inning, Charles Moorman had his first hit of the season after starting 0 for 8. Saquan Johnson followed with a double, his first extra-base hit of the season.
Third baseman Jose Trevino made two sparkling plays, throwing out Baez after a diving stop in the third and throwing out Jesse Hodges at home plate in the fourth.
