Hattenburg Strikes Back Indians Hitter Makes Ex-Rival Pay

It took six years, but Ray Hattenburg finally ended his slump against Matt Sachse.

Hattenburg capped his first three-hit day as a professional with a run-scoring single off Sachse during the Spokane Indians’ 6-1 win over Everett at Avista Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

The head-to-head result was always different when Hattenburg’s Mead Panthers faced Sachse’s Ferris Saxons in Greater Spokane League baseball in the mid-1990s.

“He always got me out,” Hattenburg said. “I think that was probably my first hit off him in 20 at-bats. But it was nice to see him out there. Guys were coming into the dugout saying he has good stuff.”

Sachse, signed by the Seattle Mariners in 1994 as an outfielder, has started from scratch as a pitcher this spring. The left-hander had his moments after entering in the sixth inning, including four strikeouts. But Spokane nicked him for four earned runs and seven hits in 2-1/3 innings.

Hattenburg went 3 for 4 and is 8 for 18 in his last five games. The utility player had a 6-for-30 dip in late July and was momentarily benched.

“They kind of sat me out a little bit, but it was good because I got to think about my swing,” Hattenburg said.

Spokane’s win left both teams with 22-20 records as they pursue first-place Yakima in the Northwest League’s North Division. The pitcher of record in Spokane’s 22nd win was the pitcher of record for its first win, on June 21. For Joey Baker (2-2), it had been a long time between victories.

“That first outing, I threw a lot of strikes and got a lot of ground balls,” Baker said. “It was kind of similar to what I did today.”

Baker allowed four hits and no earned runs in 5-2/3 innings, his longest outing since working six innings in his debut. Baker was 1-0 with a 2.57 earned-run average after his first three starts, but went 0-2 with a 9.20 ERA during his next four.

“I’ve lacked some consistency with my pitches,” Baker said. “You make it a lot easier on the hitters if you’re throwing just one pitch (fastballs) for strikes.”

Abel Martinez’s two-out, two-run single to center in the fifth off Tony DeJesus (2-5) broke a scoreless tie. After Hattenburg’s RBI single in the seventh, Spokane struck for a three-run eighth. Marco Cunningham’s two-run double over the head of center fielder Jamal Strong highlighted the inning.

The Indians were one out away from their second shutout of the week, but Hattenburg’s error at first base extended the ninth inning and led to Strong’s RBI single to right.

Everett won the series 2-1 and is 4-2 vs. Spokane this season. The teams will play again at Avista on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday then move to Everett for three.

Between now and then, the Indians will play a three-game set at Boise. Eleven of Spokane’s next 14 games are on the road.

Brad Stiles (5-1, 2.72), tied for second in league wins and No. 8 in ERA, is Spokane’s scheduled starter tonight.

Wednesday’s attendance of 3,408 was Spokane’s third-lowest in 24 home games.

Notes

Indians second baseman Juan Guzman was a late scratch because of a toothache… . Spokane is 13-11 at home and 5-7 against teams from the North Division… . Spokane first baseman Chad Santos, the NWL’s home run leader with 10, took his first day off of the season. That leaves Marco Cunningham as the only Spokane player to have played every game… . Indians right fielder Ben Cordova made the play of the game, sprawling to glove Jaime Bubela’s liner in the eighth.

This sidebar appeared with the story: News from the minors

Ozzie Canseco sets record

Ozzie Canseco broke the Atlantic League’s season record for home runs Wednesday, and he has plenty of time to raise the mark much higher.

Canseco hit his 33rd and record-breaking 34th homers to lead Newark past the Nashua Pride 10-9, the Bears’ franchise-record eighth straight win.

The Bears have 53 games to play in the independent league’s 140-game schedule, so Canseco, a designated hitter and identical twin of major league slugger Jose Canseco, likely will raise the record.

Albuquerque pursues replacement

Pro baseball is leaving Albuquerque at the end of the season, but maybe not for long.

The Albuquerque Dukes, members of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League and the top farm team of the Los Angeles Dodgers, are playing their final season in the city. The franchise was sold earlier this year and will be moved to Portland next year.

Mayor Jim Baca has led the effort to attract another pro team to Albuquerque, and a city committee has been searching for investors to bring in a new franchise.