Brown’s 5 Hits Spark Indians

Dermal Brown’s 5-for-5 effort was a big reason the Spokane Indians ended their offensive slump Wednesday.

Brown, just 1 for 10 in three previous games against Portland, drove in a pair of runs as Spokane (6-3) beat the Rockies 9-4 to end a three-game Northwest League slide.

Brown singled and scored during a three-run first inning, singled home his 10th run in a two-run second, and capped Spokane’s scoring with an RBI triple to right field in the eighth.

Portland (6-3) had outscored Spokane 23-14 during the series, limiting the Indians to 20 hits. Spokane’s nine runs and 14 hits Wednesday tied season highs.

The final game of the set is tonight. Spokane returns home Friday against Everett.

Indians starter Jason Gooding (1-0) retired the first 11 batters. Staked to a 7-0 lead, he allowed two runs in the fifth.

Gooding was 11-0 with Texas Tech this year.

Spokane slowed down Rockies leadoff hitter Jeremy Jackson, who had been 7 for 14 with six RBIs in the series. Jackson, grounding out to end the game, finished 0 for 5.

Juan LeBron had an RBI single in the first, then scored behind Brown on Dave Willis’ infield single to first base.

Rod Metzler had an RBI double in the second to improve his hitting streak to seven games.

Spokane scored twice in the third off starter Jake Kringen (0-2), as Joe Dillon’s RBI fielder’s choice became a second run on a Rockies error.

Kringen, of Elma, Wash., and the University of Washington, was pitching on his 21st birthday.

Spokane’s Mike Brambilla had an RBI bloop single in the sixth.

Justin Lamber, Spokane’s third pitcher, allowed Jason Franklin’s two-run homer to left in the eighth. The Rockies have just two homers this year.

Spokane infielders Joe Caruso and Merrell Ligons continued to rest with minor injuries.