Making Themselves At Home Timberjacks Hand Indians Eighth Loss In Last 12 Nwl Games

The Spokane Indians probably could use a change of scenery.

It’s apparently worked for Southern Oregon. The Timberjacks, better on the road than at home, sent the Indians to a third straight defeat Tuesday, 10-7, in a Northwest League baseball game at Seafirst Stadium.

Spokane, which won 10 straight at Seafirst to open the season, fell for the sixth time in its last nine games at home. The Indians are 9-10 since a 13-3 start and have won just four of their last 12.

After a day off today, Spokane (22-13) travels to Eugene for a five-game set beginning Thursday. Struggling Eugene is in last place in the South Division.

Eugene could provide the cure for the ailing Indians, who fell three games behind North Division-leading Boise (25-10), which defeated Portland (19-15) 10-7 in an afternoon game.

Southern Oregon will enjoy its trip home after moving into a first-place tie in the South Division with Portland. The bad news, though, is the Timberjacks, 12-7 on the road, are just 7-8 at home.

The Timberjacks certainly sent a message to their division foes. It would be surprising if Southern Oregon isn’t in the hunt for a divisional crown at the end of August, especially after their display of grit in their final series with Spokane before a crowd of 5,282. The Timberjacks and Indians split their 10 games.

Southern Oregon put at least one runner on base in every inning, jumping out to a 2-0 lead after two innings and never trailing thereafter. They finished with 17 hits as each starter had at least one hit apiece. Six players had two or more hits.

“We gave away two ballgames (to Southern Oregon), and sometimes when you do that it builds into a last night where they have some confidence and our confidence might have been down a little bit,” Spokane manager Jeff Garber said. “We scrapped back, but every time we scrapped back they’d score some runs.”

Garber said the Indians are looking forward to the day off and the trip to Eugene.

“This day off is well-needed,” he said. “We’re tired. I told the players it’s time to gather themselves and remember the enthusiasm they had when they got here.”

Spokane will begin the second half of the season during the series at Eugene.

Garber expects his team to bounce back.

“I think we’ve got a bunch of great competitors and great people,” he said. “In rough times character is built. We’re going through a rough time but we’ll be back.”

Notes

The game Monday didn’t end until 2 minutes before midnight, nearly 5 hours after the first pitch.

Garber gave Dermal Brown, the leading hitter in the NWL, the night off Tuesday, his first rest after 34 starts.

Spokane reliever Aaron Carter was a tough-luck loser Monday. He pitched 3-2/3 innings, striking out seven, walking two and allowing one hit. The winning run, coming on Carter’s watch, was unearned.

The Indians return home for three games beginning July 29 against rival and perennial league power Boise. , DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ON DECK THURSDAY Spokane at Eugene, 7:05 p.m.