Chris Derrick

The Spokane Indians played their longest game of the season Friday night to assure themselves that their final six games mean something. Kenderick Moore's two-out single, just under the glove of second baseman Tony Zuniga, scored Carlos Beltran from third base as Spokane edged Bellingham 5-4 in 13 innings at Seafirst Stadium. When the dust cleared after the 4-hour, 11-minute game, Spokane (33-37) had pulled within four games of first-place Bellingham (37-33) in the Northwest League North Division.

No other Northwest League catcher can match Tom Topaum's working environment. When Topaum crouches behind the plate to start a Bellingham game, his odds of staring at an NWL all-star are 2 in 5.

Too sick to play, Brett Taft still affected the outcome of Saturday's Spokane Indians game. With Taft a late scratch because of a recurrence of flu-like symptoms, Spokane manager Bob Herold had to alter his lineup. He inserted Kris Didion into the No. 8 spot and moved designated hitter Roman Escamilla from No. 8 up to No. 7, Taft's planned spot. Escamilla adjusted well to the change, thundering a grand slam in the fifth inning to power the Indians past the Yakima Bears 5-3 at Seafirst Stadium. Didion followed with a lineout to center. "I hate to see a guy get sick, but as fate would have it I was in the right situation," said Escamilla, who collected Spokane's fifth slam of the season.

A pennant race wasn't enough to keep Paul Galloway in Bellingham. The Giants third baseman left the team Aug. 16 to return for his final two semesters at Clemson University. Galloway, who carries a 4.0 grade-point average, is majoring in electrical engineering.

Jake Chapman has been nearly unstoppable. Photo by Dennis Lunstroh/Action Photography

Everett's Brian Lindner avoids slide by Indians' Kenderick Moore, buts fails to complete double play. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

Everett's Brian Lindner avoids slide by Indians' Kenderick Moore, buts fails to complete double play. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

All year, the Spokane Indians had never scored against Julio Ayala, rallied in the ninth inning or asked Kit Pellow to sacrifice. Those shortcomings ended Tuesday, in dramatic fashion.

The universe's powerful, unseen forces took umbrage with Everett pitcher Rafael Rivera in mid-July. Rivera developed flu symptoms while the AquaSox visited Yakima July 16-18. Back in Everett, good news arrived in the form of a bonus check. Eager to assist wife Maria and newborn daughter Valeria in Puerto Rico, Rivera attempted to cash the check.

Hook 'em, Horns. This inspirational ditty, courtesy of the University of Texas, finally applied to the Spokane Indians Wednesday afternoon. Texas product Jason Layne drove in five runs - as did Kit Pellow who hit two long home runs - to guide Spokane (18-25) to a 17-2 laugher over Southern Oregon.

Fresh from a College World Series title, Justin Bowles arrived in Medford, Ore., this season expecting to continue the celebration. Instead, he found himself part of a Southern Oregon team that made shoddy fielding and inconsistent hitting its trademarks. The Timberjacks reached the Northwest League's halfway point with the worst record and team batting average. Yet Bowles and the Timberjacks (16-26) have revived themselves in Spokane, where they're one win away from a four-game sweep against the sparkless Indians. Bowles had two of Southern Oregon's 10 hits Tuesday during an 8-2 win at Seafirst Stadium. Bowles is 9 of 14 during the series, a three-game sequence that has brought out the worst Spokane (17-25) could offer. "I totally understand what that's like (Spokane's slump)," said Bowles, a right fielder this year until another player's promotion moved him to center. "We've been there, and we don't want to go back." Bowles made all-tournament when Louisiana State won the CWS in early June. On the tourney's second day, Bowles learned he'd been selected by Oakland in the 16th round of the amateur draft. The elation of the CWS turned to puzzlement during the NWL season's early days. Timberjacks fielders and hitters often looked silly, and Bowles considered himself no exception. The struggle reminded Bowles of his junior season at LSU. The 6-foot, 195-pound left-hander had transferred from Galveston (Texas) Junior College, passing on professional ball after being drafted by Spokane's parent team, Kansas City. No team thought to draft Bowles following his junior-season slump, but a .305 average, with 22 home runs, made him a hot commodity again this year. Recent advice from the Athletics' roving hitting instructor struck a responsive chord, and Bowles' average has climbed to .288. "It's about time," Bowles said. "I've been up and down this summer. Now I'm starting to correct my bad habits." The same goal might be on Spokane's mind. The Indians made four errors Tuesday - all in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, as Southern Oregon broke from a 2-all tie to nail NWL wins leader Allen Sanders (5-1). Spokane pitched around Bowles after MacGregor Byers' leadoff double in the sixth. T.R. Marcinczyk bunted to third baseman Kit Pellow, who threw low to first - partly because second baseman Kris Didion covered too late. Byers scored, and while the Indians agonized, Marcinczyk scrambled over to an uncovered second base. Todd Mensik followed with a sacrifice fly to left. Pellow cut off the outfield relay and had Marcinczyk hung up, but threw too low to second. Ugliness continued in the seventh, after two outs, when reliever Aaron Lineweaver hit Terrance Freeman with a pitch. Freeman stole second, took third on catcher Roman Escamilla's throw into center, and scored when center fielder Carlos Beltran overran the ball. Another Indians error came in the eighth, but only after Marcinczyk homered to deep left-center and Alex Rondon skied a two-run homer to left. Jake O'Dell (2-1) allowed just three hits in seven innings, the team's longest outing this year. He and reliever Rico Lagattuta set down the final 18 Indians after Jason Layne's RBI single and Pellow's sacrifice fly in the fourth. The series ends today with the year's final 3:05 p.m. start. Southern Oregon's Brett Laxton (0-3, 5.48) is scheduled to start against Steve Hueston (1-1, 2.20). Notes Indians infielder Brett Taft flew home to Alabama for the funeral of his grandmother. ... Pellow's homer Monday was his first since July 14.

Bellingham, which continues to closely pursue leader Everett, could conceivably win its fourth North Division title in the past five years. These Giants, however, are unlike the division-winning Giants of 1995. When Bellingham won the Northwest League's North by six games last year, its pitching led the way. Guided by Post Falls native Darin Blood (6-3, 2.54 earned-run average), the Giants posted the league's best ERA.

Consider Scott Mullen part of the Dallas Baptist University "West" team that's helped stabilize the Spokane Indians after a sluggish start. Mullen, fellow pitcher Aaron Lineweaver and infielder Scott Harp all played for NAIA Dallas Baptist last spring. Ranked No. 1 all year, DBU (62-10) lost the regional championship game and a shot at the NAIA World Series. The three players have reunited in Spokane, where Mullen played the big role Saturday in an 8-2 Northwest League win over the Yakima Bears. Spokane, 17-22, has won 10 of its last 16.

Scott Mullen turned in the longest outing by a Spokane Indians starter Saturday, limiting Yakima to four singles in an 8-2 Northwest League win at Seafirst Stadium. Mullen (2-2), who made a clubhigh eighth start, lasted seven innings. He had a pitch count of 85 and needed just 86 to retire 21 Bears. Mullen struggled early in the season, but he's been sharp most of July. He hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in a start since July 2. "(Pitching coach) Buster Keeton pretty much figured out what I was doing wrong mechanically (early in the year)," Mullen said. "He called it reconstructive surgery." Mullen played at NAIA Dallas Baptist University, as did Indians teammates Scott Harp and Aaron Lineweaver. "We were 62-10, ranked No. 1 the whole year," said Mullen, the ace of that staff. "Then we blew it at the end, losing the regional championship." Spokane staked Mullen to a 7-0 lead after two innings. Yakima starter Jay O'Shaunessy (0-2) never found the mark, walking five and allowing all seven runs in 1 1-3 innings. Roman Escamilla had a two-run single in the first and Kit Pellow drove in RBIs 36 and 37 with a second-inning triple. Spokane's first encounter with Southern Oregon is at 6:05 tonight. Spokane's Enrique Calero (1-2) is scheduled to start the opener of the four-game series Notes The Indians rested outfielder Brandon Berger for the first time in 24 games. Berger's impressive stats: tied for third in the league in hits and RBIs, tied for fourth in homers and fifth in batting average. . . . Following Saturday's gate of 6,333, Spokane's average attendance of 5,114 factors out to a record-setting 194,332. Before the season, the Indians set an attendance goal of 170,000. . . .

When Jeff Kubenka heard he would be the Yakima Bears' closer, he didn't take the news as a compliment. Halfway through the Northwest League season, however, Kubenka has to be considered the eight-team league's premier reliever. Maybe this closing stuff isn't so bad, after all. With Kubenka stopping a Spokane rally in the ninth and pitching a perfect 10th, Yakima (15-23) edged the Indians 3-2 Friday at sultry Seafirst Stadium.

Jeremy Giambi doesn't mind when people ask him about him older brother. "I'm his biggest fan and he's my biggest fan," Giambi said of big brother Jason, one of the Oakland Athletics' hitting stars. Still, Giambi would like to make his own mark in baseball. What he did Thursday at sizzling Seafirst Stadium will help his cause.

When selecting a new nickname, start with alliteration: Savannah Sand Gnats, Winston-Salem Warthogs, Jamestown Jammers. Rhymes, or near rhymes, are also nice, as in New Haven Ravens or Amarillo Dillas. Critters are an endless source of inspiration: Portland Sea Dogs, Carolina Mudcats, Hickory Crawdads, Piedmont Boll Weevils, Lubbock Crickets.

Well, let's see what that first baseman, No. 17, has to say about his game-winning hit. Oops. Scratch that. Let's see what the other No. 17 at first base says about his game-winning hit. Yakima's No. 17, Brian Sankey, smashed a two-out, two-run double to punctuate a five-run ninth inning Thursday as the Bears demoralized the Spokane Indians 7-6 at Seafirst Stadium. The Indians' Northwest League season, just more than three weeks old, hit rock bottom. Everything seemed right - good crowd, beautiful weather, two fun-loving mascots - because Spokane had rallied from a 2-0 deficit.

Judge the Spokane Indians after their 21st game. Indians manager Bob Herold drew a line in the sand before the Northwest League season began. He said he and his coaching staff would analyze their talent for 21 games, then put their best players on the field for the final 55 contests of the short-A season.

Boise's impressive winning streak ended Saturday, as did Spokane's search for a strong performance from a starting pitcher. Spokane's ace thus far, Steve Huesten, allowed just two hits in five innings as the Indians toppled the Hawks 11-5 at warm Seafirst Stadium. "Huesten battled his fanny off," said Indians manager Bob Herold. "He goes right out and competes."

What better way to decide a bizarre game than to have Matt Hobbie drive in the winning run - on a strange hit. "Struggling" doesn't aptly describe what has happened to Hobbie this year. The 21-year-old Boise outfielder had ventured to the plate 22 times this Northwest League season without recording a hit. Calls home to mom and dad in Sarasota, Fla., however, kept Hobbie's spirits high. His parents' inspirational messages paid dividends Friday as Hobbie made at-bat No. 23 the key moment in Boise's 10th consecutive win.

Spokane catcher Juan Robles plays with uncommon enthusiasm, a trait valued by manager Bob Herold. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

At least Matt Sachse has a full year to plan a 21st birthday to compare with big No. 20. Sachse, the Spokane native who tore apart Greater Spokane League pitching a scant two years ago, celebrated his 20th birthday in grand style Saturday. Heck, they even shot off fireworks at Seafirst Stadium after the Ferris High product homered, doubled and drove in three runs to guide Everett over the Spokane Inidans 8-7 before a season-high crowd of 7,253. "You have to think of it as another day at the office," Sachse said as a popular fireworks program sponsored the The Spokesman-Review lit up the field. But it wasn't just another day for Sachse, whose only other professional homer came last year against Portland. Not that the pleasant 6-foot-4 right fielder remembered the moment two much. "It was a 3-2 fastball," Sachse said. "Hey, it happens so rarely that you have to remember." With nearly 25 of his friends and family members in attendance, Sachse strolled to the plate in the first inning with one out, one run already in and runners on first and second. Spokane starter Ethan Stein (0-2), a 6-foot-7 right-hander, tried to sneak a 1-0 changeup past the left-handed Sachse. Sachse slammed a towering shot over the right-field fence, approximately 370 feet away, for a 4-0 lead. "(The Indians) had pitched to the (two) other left-handers somewhat similar, so I thought I knew what to expect," Sachse said. Spokane spent the rest of the night chipping away at the lead, but never quite catching the AquaSox (6-6), who won their third straight and lead Spokane by one game in the Northwest League's North Division. "That's not the kind of team we are," said Everett manager Roger Hansen. "We'll score a few runs; but we're usually not the type to score runs early. We rely on our pitching and defense." The Indians, who have lost six of eight, reached Everett starter Marty Weymouth (2-0) for three runs in the first. Tony Miranda, mired in a 1-for-23 slump, lined a three-run homer to left. The AquaSox struck for two more in the third, with Sachse again in the middle of the action. He doubled to the opposite field with one out and socred on Ramon Valera's perfect bunt single. "I had a good game today," said Sachse, who raised his batting average from .167 to .195. "I've been doing a lot of work with (hitting coach) Andy Bottin on using my hands right. Weymouth, who entered with a 0.00 earned-run average through six innings, allowed six earned runs in 5-1/3 innings but escaped enough jams to earn the win. Rafael Rivera was sharp for 2-2/3 innings, then Jhonny Jiminez pitched a perfect ninth for the save. The three-game series ends at 6:05 tonight, then the Indians begins a four-game set at Eugene Monday. Spokanes's Aaron Lineweaver (0-1, 3.00 ERA) is scheduled to start today against Roger Blanco (0-1, 3.38), who lost to Spokane June 20. Notes Indians manager Bob Herold announced that Modesto Villarreal (1-2), Friday's losing pitcher, will be sent to the bullpen to work on his mechanics. Brandon Baird (1-0, 2.25) of Wichita State will take Villarreal's place in the starting rotation. Biard is a rodeo clown during the off-season. ...All four NWL North Division teams began Saturday with 5-6 records. ...Spokane's average attendance of 5,574 is second-best in the league, behind Portland's 10,098. ...In-fielder Valera, new to the AquaSox roster, arrived in Spokane a couple of hours before the game and drew the starting assignment at second base.

Kris Didion of the Indians finds a safe route to second base, but Everett discovers victory before 7,210 at Seafirst Stadium on Friday. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review