Eugene Slams 1st-Time Starter

Brandon Baird’s first starting assignment wasn’t one he’ll want to duplicate.

Baird (1-1) allowed the first four runners he faced to reach base Wednesday as Eugene parlayed its four-run first inning into a 6-2 Northwest League win over the Spokane Indians.

Baird, taking the place of an ineffective Modesto Villarreal in the Indians’ rotation, allowed three extra-base hits to start the game. Pooh Hines led off with a triple to center, Mark DeRosa doubled to right and Corey Pointer homered to left-center on a 0-0 curveball.

Pointer’s homer, his fifth of the year and third of the series, gave Eugene a league-best 21 for the season.

After the blast, cleanup hitter Steve Hacker walked and scored on shortstop Eric Sees’ two-out error.

The inning set the tone as Spokane (6-10) lost its third straight game and ninth in the last 12. Eugene (10-6) leads the season series 5-2 and attempts a four-game sweep tonight.

Rob Bell (2-2), whose two wins have come against Spokane, allowed three hits in six innings. Jason Flach pitched the final three innings for his first save.

Spokane led briefly after Rick Pitts opened the game with a double and scored on Kit Pellow’s fielder’s choice. Pellow has a team-high 19 RBIs.

Enrique Calero relieved in the fourth after Baird had loaded the bases with one out. Calero escaped after Hines’s sacrifice fly gave the Ems a 5-1 lead.

Calero, who struck out seven in 4-2/3 innings, whiffed the side in the sixth.

Notes

The Indians have lost all five one-run games they’ve played. … New Spokane first baseman-designated hitter Doug Blosser is on a rehabilitation assignment after breaking his wrist at Class A Lansing (Mich.) Blosser was Kansas City’s third-round selection in the 1995 amateur draft. … Pellow leads the league with a .455 batting average. … Spokane opens a four-game home series Friday against South Division-leading Boise, replete with a fireworks show.