Neither Rain Nor Bears Keep Indians From First Spokane Spots Yakima 6-0 Lead Before Rallying In Foul Weather For Key Victory

Wed., July 21, 1999

The Spokane Indians stormed their way into first place on Tuesday.

Eric Nelson’s three-run double in the seventh inning Tuesday highlighted a furious rally that saw the Indians defeat Yakima 8-6 after trailing 6-0.

Spokane (17-14) began its rally in the fourth, shortly before the game was delayed 30 minutes by a lightning storm. Rain fell for much of the final five innings.

By the time Spokane reliever Jay Gehrke coaxed a game-ending double play, in steady rain, the Indians had reached first place in the Northwest League’s North Division for the first time this season.

Everett (16-14) entered the night in first place but lost to Boise 7-6. Spokane had been in last place most of the season, including much of the past week.

The Indians have won four consecutive games and are 5-2 on their current road swing, which ends tonight.

Indians starter Jay King allowed Josh Glassey’s three-run homer in the second for a 3-0 Bears lead. Before the homer, King had allowed one earned run in 18-2/3 innings.

King exited in the third, after an RBI groundout gave Yakima (15-15) a 5-0 lead. The Bears added another run in the third.

Spokane’s comeback began innocently, with G.J. Raymundo’s leadoff homer in the fourth. Raymundo’s next at-bat, with the score 4-2 in the sixth, followed Nelson’s leadoff walk. Raymundo lofted a fly to right that climbed over the wall, just 297 feet from home plate.

Raymundo has six homers this season, but five in the last six games.

Nelson’s no-out double off Juan Ugas (2-2) in the seventh provided the go-ahead runs. Ugas, who entered in the seventh, loaded the bases without an Indians hit.

Gehrke earned his sixth save with a strikeout and double play, after starting the inning with six consecutive balls.

The three-game series ends tonight with second-round selection Brian Sanches making his Spokane debut.

Spokane begins an eight-game homestand on Thursday, with the first of three games against the Everett AquaSox.

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Neither Rain Nor Bears Keep Indians From First Spokane Spots Yakima 6-0 Lead Before Rallying In Foul Weather For Key Victory

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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