Indians Experiencing More Ups Than Downs

A good formula exists for determining what will befall the Spokane Indians on any given day.

Simply check what Spokane did on the previous day, then expect the same outcome to occur.

The Northwest League season is 32 games old and the Indians have spent most of their schedule in a streaking mode.

Spokane has two winning streaks of six games and one of four games. Entering Saturday night’s game, the Indians had won three of four from Portland. In the one loss, 6-5, Spokane left runners at first and second base in the ninth.

On the negative side, the Indians have one four-game losing streak and two three-game skids.

Spokane has played at a 19-8 clip (.704) since beginning the year 0-4.

The 1997 Indians, who finished 45-31, were 22-10 after 32 games.

Eugene

Right fielder Jerry Simmons learned about diligence while attending The Citadel. Simmons was one of three baseball players, out of a class of 20, who made it through the Charleston (S.C.) military school.

“I don’t quit,” Simmons said. “I wasn’t going home, no matter what. But sometimes you came to practice and you didn’t want to even walk.”

Simmons hit his seventh and eighth home runs this week against Boise.

Eugene is 15-7 at home against Boise since 1995. During the same span, the Emeralds are 3-20 at Boise.

Yakima

Pitcher Joe Williams allowed five walks and hit one batter during one-third of an inning in a July 12 start against Portland.

Williams gave way to Scott Bell, who needed three pitches for an inning-ending double play.

Boise

The Hawks’ roster shrunk by three last week, as relief pitcher Matt Lubozynski was promoted to Cedar Rapids (Iowa) and pitcher Kris Williams and infielder Bryn Wade were demoted to Butte (Mont.).

Williams (2-0) received the news one hour after defeating Southern Oregon on July 11.

The Southern Oregon series showed that the first-place Hawks can be lucky as well as good. Boise committed 18 errors and was outscored 35-21, but won three of five from the Timberjacks.

Boise has been in first place in the NWL for 85 consecutive games, since July 11, 1997.

Portland

Catcher Erik Johnson has hit six of the Rockies’ eight home runs.

Johnson, from the University of Central Florida, played one year of college ball with his older brother, Adam. The elder Johnson led the NWL in hitting in 1996, with a .314 average for Eugene. Adam is playing this year for the Atlanta Braves’ Double-A team at Greenville, S.C.

A recent seven-game winning streak was Portland’s best in three years. The streak gave Portland, the defending NWL champion, a slightly better record than last year at this time.

Southern Oregon

First baseman Jason Hart has hit 12 home runs, but just two at home in Medford.

Hart, 20, is a 6-foot-5, 220-pounder from Southwest Missouri State.