Tribe Rolls Sevens In Debut 7 Doubles, 7 Runs Back Alexander

Jordy Alexander said he feels right at home in the Northwest.

National boundaries shouldn’t change that feeling.

Alexander, from Burnaby, British Columbia, struck out seven in six innings Tuesday to help the Spokane Indians open their Northwest League season on a high note.

Alexander scattered six hits and walked one during a 7-4 win over new league member Salem-Keizer at windy Seafirst Stadium.

Alexander pitched last year for the independent Tri-City Posse in Pasco. The Kansas City Royals originally planned to send Alexander to Spokane, but figured he might develop his confidence in the Western League.

“I think here I’ll have more of a chance,” said the 20-year-old left-hander. “In independent, you have to produce right now.”

Spokane produced right now Tuesday, collecting seven doubles, three shy of the NWL record. Spokane had four doubles through four innings to stake Alexander to a 6-1 lead.

Alexander fretted about the Opening-Day assignment all day, arriving early at the park to prepare for his assignment.

His first pitch was deposited to center field by Volcanoes center fielder Michael Byas, who was 3 for 5. Byas scored on Brett Casper’s two-out single.

“I was like, ‘Oh boy,’ ” Alexander said of the first pitch. “But those things are going to happen. I just have to get ahead and establish my changeup.”

Alexander, who played at Olympic Community College in Bremerton, responded with four shutout innings before being touched again in the sixth. He gave up Matt Priess’ one-out RBI single in the sixth, but escaped by turning a 1-6-3 double play to end his evening.

“To me, Alexander has the heart of a lion,” said Indians manager Jeff Garber after winning his debut. “There were a couple of situations when he got in trouble, but he went right back at them aggressively and got them.”

Spokane also has Canadian pitcher Jason Gooding on its roster.

“That’s kind of nice, because I won’t get razzed as much by the American guys,” Alexander said.

Dermal Brown, Kansas City’s No. 1 selection in last year’s amateur draft, had a two-run single in the second and an RBI double during a four-run fourth.

Cleanup hitter Doug Blosser set up both innings, with a leadoff infield single in the second and a leadoff double to left-center in the fourth.

The top of Spokane’s order went hitless until the seventh, when Goefrey Tomlinson and Joe Caruso had back-to-back doubles.

“I feel that, 1-9 (in the lineup), we have guys who can make things happen,” Garber said. “At the top of the order we have more inexperienced guys, but Caruso’s double, that was very important.”

Salem-Keizer, which moved from Bellingham this year, rallied with two out in the ninth. With one run in and the bases loaded, Rich Boring, Spokane’s third pitcher, drew a pop foul from Priess.

Notes:

Spokane added to its roster third baseman Cade Griffith, a free agent from Dallas Baptist… . Today’s pitching matchup is Spokane right-hander Todd Meady against Salem-Keizer righty Jeff Pohl. Meady was 5-8 during the last two seasons for the rookie league Gulf Coast (Fla.) Royals. … The Indians retired uniform No. 42 before the game to honor the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s first year in the Major Leagues.

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