On The Mark: Melito Lifts Indians Three-Run Triple Highlights Big Seventh Inning As Spokane Secures Victory Over Everett, 7-3

The Spokane Indians thanked pitchers Steve Prihoda, John Albrecht and Brent Kaysner for keeping them in Tuesday night’s game against Everett.

Then the Indians nearly high-fived Mark Melito to death for breaking the game wide open.

Melito’s bases-loaded triple in the bottom of the seventh inning propelled the Indians to a 7-3 win at Seafirst Stadium.

Melito, a .240 hitter, wrapped a Tom Szimanski pitch down the right-field line to score William Roland, Randy Paulin and Joel Nations to secure the win.

Melito had fouled off two pitches down the first-base line before he got the triple.

“In that situation (with the count at 1-2), I just waited a little longer to see the ball,” Melito said. “I’ve just been a little too anxious in those situations before this season.”

Before Melito’s three-run triple, the Indians took the lead, 4-3, when Szimanski walked Joel Nations with the bases loaded to score Mark Quinn.

Defensively, pitchers Prihoda, Albrecht and Kaysner were all sharp. The three pitchers combined to strike out 10 while scattering seven hits.

For Prihoda, the only costly mistake he made was giving up a three-run home run to Karl Thompson in the fourth inning.

Other than that, he provided a good consistent start. That is something Spokane hasn’t seen in a while.

Albrecht, who earned the win to move his record to 2-2, was solid in the middle innings before Kaysner came in and closed out Everett.

With four strikeouts in two innings, Kaysner increased his strikeout number to 30 in 28 innings pitched.

Considering the past few outings, there were obviously a lot of smiles in the Spokane clubhouse afterward. “That’s the kind of game you want to see from this bunch,” Spokane manager Al Pedrique said. “Clutch hits, good pitching - that was a lot better.”

The Indians trailed 3-1 after four innings before scoring twice to tie the game at 3-3 in the fifth.

Everett pitching broke down in the inning when starter Danny Kurtz walked Melito, the No. 9 hitter in the lineup, and then gave up a bunt hit to Hallmark.

Kurtz was removed for Kelvin Mitchell, who walked James Vida before throwing a wild pitch that allowed Melito to score.

Mitchell was then removed for Seth Brisek, who threw a wild pitch that allowed Hallmark to advance to third. An infield hit by Roland scored Hallmark to tie the game at three apiece.

Notes

Shortstop Victor Moreno and right-handed pitcher Dave Upchurch from the Lethbridge Mounties of the Pioneer League will be joining the Indians today for the road series with Everett and Southern Oregon.

Both players are under contract with the Indians parent club, the Kansas City Royals, and were playing with the co-op team in Lethbridge. They will remain with the Indians for the rest of the year.

Spokane shortstop Emiliano Escandon will likely miss the rest of the season as a result of an reinjured elbow he suffered last week in Boise.

In other Northwest League news, Southern Oregon pitcher Helpis Sosa reportedly punched teammate John Valenti prior to the A’s game against the Eugene Emeralds at Eugene’s Civic Stadium.

Valenti was released from Sacred Heart Medical Center on Monday after having surgery on his jaw.

Surgery was performed to wire together a triple fracture of Valenti’s lower jaw. The wires will be in from four to six weeks.

Observers say Valenti, an infielder, and Sosa were “wrestling playfully” during pregame warmpus when Sosa hit Valenti in the jaw with an overhand punch.

, DataTimes