Spokane Wins Again Indians Battery Teams In Charge To 7-2 Victory

The battery of Hal Hodge and Randy Paulin began the year by missing its spots.

Little was missing for Hodge, Paulin and Spokane on Wednesday, as the suddenly hot Indians trampled the Everett AquaSox 7-2 at Seafirst Stadium.

Indians catcher Paulin went 4 for 4, including a home run to left-center, and batterymate Hodge (1-0) limited Everett to two hits over five innings as Spokane (2-5) won its second consecutive game after a horrid start.

Everett, which went the equivalent of 13 innings Tuesday and Wednesday without scoring, allowed the Indians to tie it for third place in the Northwest League’s Northern Division.

“Everything went to our side,” said Indians manager Al Pedrique, “pitching, defense and hitting.”

The Indians, who played their second consecutive errorless game, banged out 13 hits. Every Indians starter except one had a hit by the fifth inning.

Spokane rocked Sydney, Australia, native Brent Iddon (0-1) for 12 hits and six earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. Iddon allowed no runs in five innings during his first start, a no-decision.

“There are days that will happen … that’s the way life is,” Iddon said.

Paulin and Hodge had experienced dog days until Wednesday. In his first start Hodge allowed nine hits in four innings. Paulin, who caught Hodge both times, started the year with a .091 batting average.

That average jumped to .381 in the eighth, when Paulin led off with a lined solo homer at least 375 feet to left- center. Paulin has hits in five consecutive at-bats.

“If anything, Tom Burgess, the (Kansas City Royals) roving hitting instructor has been working with me on using my feet first, then my hands,” Paulin said of his batting adjustment.

As for Hodge’s adjustments on the mound, catcher and pitcher agreed that the left-hander from Milbrook, Ala., calmed down and hit his spots.

“That has to be the biggest difference - location,” Hodge said. “The last time I was a little nervous, in my professional debut, so this time I took my time.”

“(Hodge) was being aggressive, going after the hitters and staying ahead in the count,” said Pedrique, whose Indians are 2-0 since listening to general manager Andy Billig and wearing their batting-practice jerseys for the game.

Spokane’s William Roland went 2 for 4, drove in single runs in the tworun first and three-run fifth, and assisted Hodge with fine glove-work at third base.

Indians first baseman James Vida also went 2 for 4, to raise his average to .429, and scored twice.

Spokane reliever Jose Santiago pitched three scoreless innings before giving way to Israel Charles in the ninth. Charles allowed back-toback doubles to pinch-hitter Chad Griffin and Joe Pomierski, and threw a wild pitch that scored Pomierski.

Spokane begins a five-game road series at Eugene, Ore, tonight. Daniel Soto (0-1) will start for Spokane. The Indians’ next home series, against Southern Oregon, begins Wednesday.

Notes

Spokane third baseman/designated hitter Mark Quinn missed the game after fracturing his left index finger while swinging the bat on Tuesday. Quinn, hitting .217, is out for at least two weeks. … After six attempts the Indians stole their first base. Every other NWL team has at least four stolen bases. … Spokane has scored just 24 runs, mainly from a lack of timely hitting. The Indians’ .268 team batting average is third-best in the league.

, DataTimes