Ferguson Throws Gem As Tribe Wins

There are some categories in which leading the league is no badge of honor.

Ian Ferguson may still finish this season as the Northwest League leader in losses, but he can always point to Tuesday night’s game as proof of his pitching abilitites.

Ferguson (3-6) pitched three-hit ball for five innings to celebrate his 21st birthday a day early, leading the Spokane Indians to a 4-1 win over the Portland Rockies in the final game of a five-game series at Avista Stadium.

With mother Missy watching him pitch professionally for the first time, Ferguson allowed one earned run and struck out six. Best friend Mike Bennett also traveled to Spokane to see Ferguson play for the first time as a pro.

Ferguson hadn’t won since July 27, when he and two relievers blanked Portland 8-0.

Two different relievers, Rafael Rinconnes and Michael Natale, helped Ferguson nail down Tuesday’s win. Natale blanked the Rockies in the eighth and ninth innings to earn his seventh save and lower his earned-run average to 0.95 in 38 innings.

Several NWL players have five losses to trail Ferguson in that undesirable category. Ferguson should have three more starts in his attempt to tag the league-leading label on somebody else.

“I’m just trying to approach each game with a fresh attitude and get things rolling the right way,” said Ferguson, who leads the Indians with 58 strikeouts in 54-1/3 innings. Ferguson has fanned six or more in seven of his 12 starts.

Ferguson hasn’t pitched past the fifth inning in any of his starts. “(Pitching coach) Randy (Smith) asked me how I was doing after the fifth,” Ferguson said. “I told him I was doing fine, but he said to tell the truth. Then I admitted that my shoulder was a little tight.” Rinconnes threw two no-hit innings then gave way to Natale. Natale hasn’t allowed an earned run in 14 innings, stretching back to July 24.

Leadoff hitter Marco Cunningham drove in the first two Indians runs, with a two-out infield single in the third inning and a one-out single to left in the fifth. Portland infield errors set up Cunningham’s second RBI and Aaron Melebeck’s two-run single to right in the seventh. Melebeck went 2 for 4 to increase his batting average to .303.

Cunningham is among the league’s top two in runs, stolen bases and on-base percentage. “I guess in my spot, the on-base percentage is the main thing,” Cunningham said. “You have to get on base. You want to have a good batting average, but it doesn’t mean as much as the on-base.”

Brad Hawpe of the Rockies hit a towering solo home run in the fourth. Portland hit just two homers off Spokane this season.

Portland won the series 3-2 to finish the 10-game season series tied at 5. Vancouver is the only team to lose a season series to Spokane this year.

Spokane (29-32), by losing 11 of its last 16, has dropped to six games out of first place in the North Division. Portland, despite a 28-32 record, is still in the hunt for the South Division title.

Spokane begins a three-game home series against the Yakima Bears at 7:05 tonight. The Indians are playing first-place Yakima for the first time this season, and will meet the Bears in 12 of their final 15 games.

Spokane is scheduled to give right-hander Joey Baker (2-4, 5.98) his 12th start tonight.

Notes

Indians right fielder Ben Cordova missed his fourth consecutive game. He’s in California, awaiting the birth of his child… . All four South Division teams were within 1 games as the evening opened… . The Indians were 37-24 at this point last season… . Spokane’s home record is 15-17 with six games left at Avista.