Goefrey Spells Win For Indians Tomlinson Plays Key Role In Spokane’s 10-4 Victory

Goefrey Tomlinson is a name to watch, even if it’s a name most people mispronounce.

GOFF-ree Tomlinson had important hits during two big innings Friday in the Spokane Indians’ 10-4 win over Southern Oregon to begin a five-game set at Seafirst Stadium.

Tomlinson’s two-run single assisted a five-run fifth, and his two-out, RBI double started a four-run eighth. Tomlinson also stole two bases, a good sign because he injured both hamstrings during his junior season at the University of Houston.

Spokane, 21-10 in the Northwest League, closed in on Boise (23-8) for the North Division lead. Portland (17-13) beat Boise 7-6 to break a first-place tie in the South with Southern Oregon (16-14).

An announced crowd of 7,202 was 13 shy of the season’s best.

Tomlinson, Spokane’s center fielder, lived his first 11 years in Jamaica until his family moved to Texas. His first name, often pronounced Jeffrey, Godfrey or Heaven Knows What, is of English derivation.

“I don’t know exactly what my mom was thinking,” Tomlinson said. “I’m just happy when people come close to getting it right.”

Tomlinson’s first two years at Houston were unimpressive, but he diligently lifted weights and boosted his numbers to .427, with 16 home runs and 67 RBIs in 57 games.

“I knew if I got the right opportunity, I’d (leave Houston) after that,” said Tomlinson, selected in the fourth round of last month’s amateur draft.

His hamstrings, especially the right, have limited his running on the bases and in the outfield. But when his legs feel right, as they did Friday, Tomlinson can chase down flies with the best of them.

Starter Jordy Alexander (3-2), the first Indians pitcher to reach the eighth this year, trailed 1-0 when LeBron led off the fifth with a homer to center. He also homered Thursday and now has four.

The four batters after LeBron also reached against Jason Anderson (2-2), leading to a conference on the mound. Anderson stayed in for one more pitch, a fastball on the outside corner that Tomlinson drove to center for a two-run single and 4-1 lead.

Tomlinson scored on the first of two triples by Joe Caruso, who is 9 for 22 (.409) against the Timberjacks and 21 for 53 (.396) for July.

Reliever Aaron Carter righted the Indians in the eighth, when Southern Oregon scored twice to trim the lead to 6-4 and had runners on second and third. Carter struck out Ed Farris, third in the league in RBIs, to end the eighth.

Tomlinson’s double in the eighth came after Carlos Pagan and Rico Montas walked with two out. Caruso tripled home Tomlinson, and other runs scored on a wild pitch and passed ball.

Notes

Pitcher Dan Reichert, this year’s No. 1 draft selection who signed Wednesday, arrived in town and was issued uniform No. 28. Indians pitching coach Steve Crawford said Reichert will start Sunday’s game, but be limited to 50 pitches. … Art Stewart, Kansas City’s special assistant to the general manager, said the Royals signed Reichert to a record contract for a drafted player… . The Indians also welcomed utility infielder Richard Petrue, a non-drafted, free-agent signee from Texas A&M. Petrue will back up Merrell Ligons at shortstop.

Indians 10, Timberjacks 4

Southern Ore. Spokane

ab r h bi ab r h bi Clifton cf 4 2 1 0 Tomlinson cf 5 2 3 3 Koerner rf 4 0 1 1 Caruso 2b 5 1 2 2 Lara 2b 2 0 1 2 DBrown lf 3 0 1 1 Piatt 3b 4 0 2 0 Blosser 1b 5 0 1 0 Farris 1b 4 1 1 0 Petrue ss 0 0 0 0 Figueroa c 4 0 1 1 LeBron rf 4 1 1 1 Tegland lf 2 0 0 0 Willis 3b-1b 4 1 1 0 Vaz lf 2 0 0 0 Metzler dh 3 0 1 1 Sosa dh 2 1 0 0 Pagan c 3 2 0 0 Robinson ss 4 0 1 0 Monts ss-3b 3 3 2 0 Totals 32 4 8 4 Totals 35 10 12 8

Southern Oregon 000 100 120 4

Spokane 000 050 14x 10

EPiatt 2 (11), Figueroa (5), Robinson (8), Anderson (1). DP Spokane 1. LOBSouthern Oregon 6, Spokane 6. 2BClifton (6), Farris (13), Tomlinson (7), Willis (6), Montas (3). 3BPiatt (1), Caruso 2 (2), Metzler (1). HRLeBron (4). SBTomlinson 2 (5), DBrown (9), Metzler (4), Montas (1). CSCaruso (2). SMetzler. SFLara 2.

Southern Ore. IP H R ER BB SO Andersn L,2-2 4-1/3 5 5 4 0 2 Jones 2-2/3 5 1 1 1 2 Wagner 1 2 4 3 2 0

Spokane IP H R ER BB SO Alexndr W,3-2 7 5 3 3 1 6 Boring 2/3 2 1 1 1 0 Carter S,2 1-1/3 1 0 0 1 3

WP-Wagner, Carter. PB-Figueroa.

T-3:08. A-7,202.

, DataTimes