Indians manhandle Bears

Tug Hulett knows.

The second baseman from Auburn University, the same school as former dual-sport standout Bo Jackson, knows how to swing a bat, knows how to enjoy a hot streak, and most of all, knows he’s a lucky man to be able to play professional baseball.

Hulett, 4 for 4 with two runs scored, helped the Spokane Indians frolic their way to a 10-1 Northwest League victory over the Yakima Bears in the final game of a three-game series at Avista Stadium on Monday night.

“I think playing in the Southeast Conference helped prepare me to play in this league,” Hulett said. “We saw a first-round draft pick pretty much every Friday in league. Getting up to hit against guys like that taught me a lot.

“At Auburn we practiced with wood bats in the fall, too, and that helped the guys that were moving up and going on to play pro ball. Same with playing in the Cape Cod League.”

Hulett’s hot bat in the three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks’ NWL entry garnered seven hits in 12 at-bats, with a pair of walks and five runs scored.

“The ball doesn’t look any bigger when you’re on a hot streak, but things definitely seem to slow down,” he said. “I’ve been trying to look for a pitch to hit earlier in the count and not have to try to hit the pitcher’s best pitch, and that’s helped. I’m being more aggressive at the plate and go up there looking for something to hit, and it’s paying off.”

Ben Harrison, an SEC alum from the University of Florida, also had a 4-for-4 night with a pair of runs scored for Spokane, accounting for half of the team’s 16 base hits.

Both Hulett and Harrison had productive collegiate seasons. Hulett was named the conference’s best pure hitter and best defensive second baseman; Harrison was a second-team All-SEC outfielder after hitting .354, leading the Gators to a three-game sweep of the Oklahoma City Regional in the NCAA postseason.

Catcher Mike Nickeas put Spokane’s first runs on the scoreboard, ripping a two-run home run with Hulett aboard with two-outs in the third inning.

Brandon Boggs, getting the start in center field, ripped a two-run double in the fifth inning and made a spectacular running catch on a line drive by Yakima catcher Orlando Mercado to open the seventh inning.

First-baseman Jim Fasano, who has struggled in three games with the Bears, belted his eighth home run of the season – a two-run shot to right field in the eighth.

Shawn Phillips got the start for Spokane, working five innings to earn the victory, his fifth in six decisions. The right-hander from Delaware State scattered four hits and allowed Yakima’s only run in the fourth on a single by Mercado.

Marcos Herrera, Jarrad Burcie and Jesse Ingram combined for four innings of one-hit relief. Ingram retired the heart of the Bears order in the bottom of the ninth, striking out triple-crown threat Chris Carter to end the game.

Angel Rocha (1-3) took the loss for Yakima, giving up nine hits and five earned runs in five innings. Reserve catcher Daniel Pohlman worked an inning in relief, giving up a base hit to start the seventh inning, then retiring the next three Spokane batters.

The win kept the defending NWL champions alive in the East Division. Third-place Spokane picked up a game on division-leading Boise and now trails by four with six games remaining. Tri-City knocked off the Hawks 6-4 in Pasco to pull within two games of the lead.

“We’re still in this thing,” Hulett said. “We have our work cut out, but anything can still happen. We picked a good time to get on a hot streak.”