Indians Pounce On Bears, Lay Claim To Season Series

The Spokane Indians continued their feast in Yakima Tuesday night, with Adrian Burnside and Neal Hannah serving up the main course.

Spokane battered Hannah (2-7) during a six-run fourth inning Tuesday to rally for an 11-6 Northwest League win at County Stadium.

The Indians (44-31) are 4-1 in Yakima this year, the first time during the stadium’s five-year history that Spokane has clinched a season series. Spokane is 7-4 overall against the Bears (23-51), with one game left.

Spokane completes its season tonight with Donald Quigley (3-2) scheduled to make his first start. Spokane will finish .500 or better against every NWL team except North Division champion Boise.

Yakima led 4-1 when Burnside, the starter, walked Jeremy Hill and Dave Willis to open the fourth. Hannah relieved and never retired a batter. Rich Petru’s two-run triple, Rod Metzler’s RBI single, Rico Montas’ RBI infield single and Dermal Brown’s two-run double to left gave Spokane a 7-4 lead.

Hill added an RBI fielder’s choice during a two-run sixth, and Metzler had an RBI single in the ninth.

Montas finished 4 for 5. Brown’s RBIs were his league-leading 69th and 70th.

Spokane starter Kris Wilson (5-3) won his fourth straight by striking out 11 in five innings. He struck out the side in the first, although Yakima jumped to a 3-0 lead.

Bears outfielder Cash Riley had two-run triples in the first and seventh innings.

Spokane batting coach Greg Smith, given a chance to manage for one night, was ejected in the third for arguing an out call at third base.

, DataTimes