Re-Vida-Lized Indians Win Another One First Baseman’s Big Night At The Plate Helps Spokane Top Two-Time Champs
From their horrible start until their current hot streak the Spokane Indians have had one constant.
His name is James Vida, and he provided the jolt the Indians needed Friday to knock off two-time defending Northwest League champion Boise (17-12).
The first baseman went 3 for 4, scored three runs and knocked in another three as Spokane (13-16) beat Boise 9-4 to halt the Hawks’ five-game winning streak.
Spokane won its third straight and its seventh in nine games. The Indians are two games behind Bellingham, which is first in the Northern Division.
Vida vitalized Spokane’s four-run third and fourth innings. He had a two-run double in the third and a two-out RBI single in the fourth that was followed by three other runs on a pleasant night at Seafirst Stadium.
Vida, third in NWL hitting, improved his average to .373. He has a league-best 41 hits.
“I’ve always had the confidence in my ability,” said Vida, who hit .386 at Florida Southern last spring. “But knowing it and doing it are two different things.
“But I haven’t done anything yet. This is just the 29th game.”
Yes, and as opposed to the 20th game, when Spokane was 6-14, the Indians are in a pennant race.
“I’m not worried about the standings,” said Indians manager Al Pedrique. “My concern is that the kids are playing the right way and doing their jobs.”
Boise outhit Spokane, 14-8, but left 14 runners on base, leaving the bags full in the second, third and seventh. Its struggling leadoff men are 20 of 110 (.182) for the year.
Boise may have won the final two league titles, but Spokane has won 11 of its last 18 games against the Hawks.
Hawks starter Kekoa Dafun (1-3) continued to wilt on the road. In three starts away from Boise, Dafun has allowed 18 earned runs in nine innings.
Spokane starter Jason Ritter worked out of troublesome jams in the second and third, but his night was over by the fourth. Reliever Justin Adam (2-3) pitched three scoreless innings for the win.
Spokane had no hits after the fourth inning. Boise had eight, including Ty Bilderback’s two-run homer in the eighth.
Indians designated hitter Scott Pinoni drove in two runs with a groundout and a single. Catcher Randy Paulin singled twice and drove in Pinoni after his fourth-inning hit.
“Now we’re capitalizing with runners in scoring position,” Vida said. “Earlier in the year, we weren’t able to do that.”
“The kids are playing hard,” Pedrique said. “They’ve started believing in themselves, that they can play at this level.”
Tonight, Boise starts Jarrod Washburn (2-1, 2.33) against Stephen Prihoda (0-1, 3.57).
Notes
Besides Vida, no other Indians player leads the NWL in any category… . Hal Hodge is the only Indians pitcher in the current starting rotation who began the season in the rotation … Tonight’s game features the antics of the Famous Chicken.
, DataTimes