Day After Is Again Rough For Indians Piling Up Runs In One August Game Is Again Followed By Weak Hitting

The Spokane Indians take at least one roller coaster ride every August.

Spokane’s latest steep drop came Friday at Boise’s Memorial Stadium. One night after totaling 19 runs and 21 hits off Boise, the Indians had just five singles during a 4-1 Northwest League loss to the Hawks.

Last year, Spokane followed up a 23-run, 22-hit performance in mid-August with a 1-0 loss in 11 innings.

In late August 1998, the Indians collected 15 hits during a 13-2 win, only to lose 5-1 the next night with three hits.

Boise (21-23) snapped a four-game losing streak and improved to 15-5 vs. Spokane in Boise since 1997. Spokane (23-21) lost its chance to go four games over .500 for the first time in three weeks.

Boise’s team earned-run average had skied to a league-worst 5.30 this week. But starter David Wolensky and relievers Scott Schneider and Charlie Thames breezed through every inning but the fourth.

Wolensky (4-1) retired the first 10 batters - six by strikeout - until Aaron Melebeck singled just beyond the reach of second baseman Carlos Gastelum in the fourth.

Abel Martinez’s two-out single to center field scored Melebeck and cut Boise’s lead to 2-1. Martinez, No. 3 in league batting, also singled in the ninth for his 49th hit.

The score remained 2-1 until Boise scored twice in the seventh, aided by three Spokane errors. On the key play, Spokane catcher Hersy Felix threw high to first base while attempting to complete an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded. Right fielder Ben Cordova was also credited with an error on the play.

Thames worked the eighth and ninth for his league-leading 10th save. Thames lowered his ERA to 0.39 in 23 innings.

Tommy Murphy scored Boise’s first two runs. Jeff Wagner singled home the second run for his league-high 33rd RBI.

The three-game series ends tonight with left-hander Jon Metzger (0-1, 4.18) scheduled to start for Spokane.