Indians Juggle Home Schedule Heavy Cloudburst Postpones Opener

Don’t think of it as a rainout.

Think of it as a second home opener.

The Spokane Indians attempted to open their Northwest League home schedule against the Everett AquaSox on Friday, but the main opening came from the skies.

Lightning and heavy rain postponed the game with one out in the bottom of the second inning.

The teams will attempt a double-header today, beginning at 5 p.m. at Seafirst Stadium.

The first game will pick up where Friday’s left off, with a 1-all tie, and go a regular nine innings. The second game, which should begin about 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first, will be a seven-inning affair.

Friday’s starters, Greg Beaver of Everett and Cary Ammons of Spokane, will not pick up where they left off. Everett will go with left-hander Albert Derenches, Spokane with righty Shawn Sedlacek, originally scheduled to start today anyway.

The Indians’ second-game starter may be a pitcher called up from Florida’s Gulf Coast rookie league.

Spokane hadn’t had a home game rained out since September 1994. Friday’s contest, which was a sellout, started 17 minutes late because of pregame ceremonies.

Spokane turned double plays in the first and second. The Indians led 1-0 after one, as Mike Curry led off with a single to right field, stole second base and scored on Brian Shackelford’s single to right.

The AquaSox pulled even in their second as Rick Southall beat out an infield hit and scored from second when Indians second baseman Corey Hart threw wildly to first on a double-play attempt.

Henry Calderon was up to bat with one out in the second when the home-plate umpire pulled the players off the field because of approaching lightning. Heavy rain started soon after.

Spokane is 0-3, Everett 1-2 in the North Division. New Indians pitcher Jim Hooper was on the roster.

Aqua Sox at Indians (2) Today: 5 p.m.