Indians Lose 6-2 As Bullpen Blows It

Spokane had its six-game road winning streak snapped Sunday night, suffering a 6-2 loss to the AquaSox when three relievers conspired to botch what had been a pitchers’ duel.

The Indians led 2-1 when starter Steve Heuston left to start the sixth inning, but Aaron Lineweaver, Jake Chapman and Jamie Burton issued eight walks over the final three innings. Heuston allowed three hits and an unearned run.

Roger Blanco pitched five innings for Everett. Rafael Rivera (3-0) earned the victory in relief, throwing three scoreless innings and allowing just one hit.

Lineweaver (1-3) walked four, committed a throwing error and made a wild pitch in absorbing the loss. He entered for Heuston in the sixth and promptly allowed the tying run on a double by Mike Burrows, who was hitting .175. Lineweaver left in the seventh with the bases loaded and no outs. That forced Chapman into damage control, and Everett led 4-2 by the time the seventh inning ended.

Matt Sachse had tied it for the AquaSox in the fourth, singling to score Steve Kokinda. Sachse, batting .283 with 15 RBIs and two home runs, went 1 for 4 with two RBIs. His fielder’s choice scored Ramon Valera and capped Everett’s two-run seventh.

The AquaSox added the final two runs off Burton, who walked Burrows, hit Brian Nelson and gave up an infield hit to Cy Simonton before forcing in runs with consecutive walks to Ramon Valera and Brian Lindner.

Spokane led 1-0 in the second when Doug Blosser doubled off the scoreboard in right-center, scoring Carlos Beltran.

After Sachse tied it, the Indians answered with one run in the sixth. Blanco began the inning, but was pulled in favor of Rivera after Jeremy Giambi singled and Kit Pellow walked. Jason Layne followed with an RBI single.

The four-game series concludes tonight at 7:05.

, DataTimes