Hawks Hang Another Loss On Tribe For Second Night In A Row, Third Inning Spells Disaster For Struggling Spokane

There’s a scary pattern emerging for the Spokane Indians.

It has to do with the inability to record a third out in the third inning.

Boise defeated the Indians 16-4 Saturday at Memorial Stadium, scoring seven runs after two were out in the third.

Friday’s Northwest League opener, a 9-5 Boise win, included a six-run third after two were out.

Spokane led Saturday’s game 4-1 when starter Ryan Douglass (0-1) ran into trouble. He hit a batter to load the bases, then watched the Indians’ three-run lead disappear.

Gary Johnson’s two-run single cut Spokane’s lead to 4-3. The Hawks took the lead when University of Washington product Kevin Ticen walked on a wild pitch with the bases loaded. Spokane catcher Brian Johnson retrieved the ball but threw wildly, allowing the go-ahead run to score.

Josh Shaffer’s two-run single capped Boise’s high-scoring third.

Douglass allowed six earned runs in 2-2/3 innings. Craig Jones, Spokane’s starter on Friday, also lasted 2-2/3 innings.

Indians reliever Jay King had no better luck, allowing six earned runs in two innings. Boise batted around for the second time during a four-run fifth, highlighted by Scott Bikowski’s RBI double.

All 16 Hawks runs were earned.

Indians pitchers hit three batters, giving them six HBPs in two games. The five Spokane pitchers also totaled eight walks.

Spokane started well with a three-run third that was capped by designated hitter Casey Dunn’s two-run homer to left-center. Eric Nelson, who homered Friday, added an RBI double during the inning.

Boise reliever Craig Glysch (1-0) earned the win, pitching no-hit ball in the fourth and fifth. Glysch struck out three and walked two.

Spokane started its 1998 season 0-3 at Boise, but all were one-run games.

The teams complete their three-game series at 5:05 tonight. Right-hander Carlos Pichardo is scheduled to start for Spokane against lefty Sean Brummett of Indiana State.

Spokane’s home opener is set for 7:05 p.m. Monday, the first of five games with the Eugene Emeralds.

The Indians announced that righty Ryan Baerlocher of Lewiston is the projected starter for the home opener. Baerlocher pitched for Lewis-Clark State and was selected in the sixth round of the June 2-4 amateur draft.

Spokane Boise ab r h bi ab r h bi Shanks cf 3 0 0 0 Bikowski cf 5 1 1 1 Alou cf 1 0 0 0 Boeth 2b 4 1 3 0 Ellis ss 2 0 1 1 Quinlan 2b 0 0 0 1 Lucas ss 2 0 0 0 O’Keefe lf 5 0 1 2 Nelson 2b 2 1 2 1 Palmieri 1b 4 2 0 0 Ruiz 2b 1 0 0 0 GJohnson rf 4 3 3 2 Dunn dh 4 1 1 2 Ticen 3b 3 2 1 0 Raymundo 3b 4 0 0 0 Santos 3b 1 0 0 0 Shearin rf 4 0 0 0 Barski c 5 2 3 2 Clay 1b 4 0 0 0 Kelleher dh 2 2 1 1 BJohnson c 4 1 1 0 Shaffer ss 4 3 3 3 Ramirez lf 4 1 3 0 Totals 35 4 8 4 Totals 37 16 16 12 Spokane 004 000 000 4 Boise 017 042 02x 16 EBJohnson (1), Boeth (1), Quinlan (1), Ticen 2 (3), Shaffer (1). DPSpokane 2. LOBSpokane 7, Boise 9. 2BNelson 2 (2), Bikowski (1), Ticen (1), Kelleher (1). HRDunn (1). SBClay (1), GJohnson (1). SKelleher.

Spokane IP H R ER BB SO Douglass L,0-1 2-2/3 5 6 6 2 1 King 2 7 6 6 1 0 Gilfillan 1-1/3 3 2 2 1 0 Garcia 1 1 0 0 1 1 Gehrke 1 0 2 2 3 0 Boise IP H R ER BB SO Bergman 3 6 4 4 0 2 Glysch W,1-0 2 0 0 0 2 3 Padilla 2 1 0 0 1 2 Hurtado 1 0 0 0 0 0 Grezlovski 1 1 0 0 0 0 HBP-by Douglass (Palmieri), by Gilfillan (Boeth), by Gehrke (Quinlan). WP-Douglass, King, Bergman. Balk-Garcia. T-3:28. A-4,288 (4,500).

Hawks 16 Indians 4 Today: Spokane at Boise, 5 p.m. Radio: KKPL 630-AM.