Tribe Sweeps, Dares To Dream

Pennant race? Spokane Indians?

As bizarre as it sounds, Spokane, which hasn’t been at the .500 mark since June 27, is making the final week of the Northwest League season quite interesting.

Second baseman Kenderick Moore went 4 for 5, including his first home run as a professional, stole two bases and scored three runs as the Indians (32-36) held off Bellingham 9-7 at Joe Martin Stadium.

Spokane swept the two-game road series from the North Division-leading Giants (36-32) to pull within four games of first with eight games left - six at home. Yakima (34-34), which won Wednesday, is two back and entertains Spokane Monday and Tuesday.

The scene shifts today to Spokane, where Bellingham begin a four-game series at 7:05 p.m. Spokane’s Scott Mullen (4-5), who has allowed two or less earned runs in his last four starts, is set to challenge Ken Vining (3-1), just named left-handed starter on the NWL all-star team. Vining’s lone loss was to Spokane.

Indians outfielder Brandon Berger shook off an 0-for-32 hitting slump with three hits and two runs batted in to aid Wednesday’s cause.

Berger’s RBI single in the sixth, which followed Moore’s solo homer, gave him 50 RBIs. Spokane RBI leader Kit Pellow had his 61st with an RBI single in the third.

Spokane built leads of 6-1 and 8-4, then survived Bellingham’s three-run rally in the sixth.

Tribe third baseman Kris Didion, whose two errors in the sixth led to three unearned runs off winner Aaron Lineweaver (2-4), lofted a sacrifice fly in the ninth for insurance.

Fourth Indians pitcher Chad Rodriguez earned his second save and his first since his Tribe debut July 19.

Rodriguez recorded an inning-ending grounder in the eighth, struck out the first two batters in the ninth, then remained calm when left fielder Jeremy Giambi dropped a fly that would have ended the game. After a single, Rodriguez coaxed another fly to Giambi - this one bagged.

Giambi went 3 for 5 and scored three times.

The Indians begin a big week of promotions tonight with team photo night. The first 2,000 fans - and all season-ticket holders - will receive a souvenir team photo.

Friday, when the Indians figure to break the club attendance record, is the season’s final 50-cent feast night.

Notes

Spokane infielder Brett Taft was a late scratch because of a knee injury. He and outfielder Carlos Beltran (hip) are listed as day-to-day. … Bellingham leads the season series 6-5. … Spokane improved its road record to 18-18. The Indians are 14-18 at home, but 7-3 since July 30. Spokane is 25-20 (.556) since July 11.