Tribe Can’T Solve Saipe, Bend
The final trip the Spokane Indians expect to make to Bend was anything but relaxing.
Bend starter Mike Saipe (2-7) no-hit the Indians for 6 innings Thursday during Spokane’s 6-3 Northwest League loss.
Pete Bifone broke up the nohitter with a seventh-inning double. Spokane’s other hits were Kenya Hunt’s two-run homer in the eighth and Gary Matthews Jr.’s single in the ninth.
Bend (22-39), which won four of five during the series, figures to relocate to Portland next season.
The teams tied their 10-game season series. Spokane has dropped three straight since Monday’s 13-0 win.
Spokane (26-35) loaded the bases with one out in the ninth off reliever Denny McAdams. Hunt, a hero the previous inning, struck out. McAdams recorded his first save when Jason Tyrus’ groundout ended the game.
Indians starter Shane Dennis (1-7) and two relievers allowed nine hits, and Bend didn’t waste many. The Rockies left the bases loaded in the eighth, but stranded no other runners.
Trailing 4-0, the Indians scored in the seventh on Darren Grass’ groundout after Bifone doubled and took third on a wild pitch. Hunt’s homer an inning later drove in Matthews, who had walked.
Bend’s Ronnie Hall doubled and scored on a double play in the first, then hit a solo homer in the third. The Rockies’ Derrick Gibson tied for the NWL homer lead with his 11th, a two-run shot, in the fourth.
Chad Gambill had a sacrifice fly for Bend in the seventh and Gary Jones had an RBI walk in the eighth.
The Indians are at home for their next five games, starting tonight at 7:05 against Northern Divisionleading Yakima, which has the NWL’s best record. Arthur Lee Jenkins (3-5) will start for Spokane.
Notes: Tonight is Seattle Mariners night at Seafirst Stadium, with the Mariner Moose in attendance. Mariners bat bags and Ken Griffey Jr. T-shirts will be given away… . Spokane finished 20-20 against the Southern Division. The rest of the Indians’ 15 games are against Yakima, Everett and Bellingham. Only five of those games are on the road.