Hawks trip Indians in 10 innings

Mon., June 21, 2004

The Spokesman-Review

BOISE – Luis Montanez scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Boise Hawks a 6-5 victory over the Spokane Indians in Northwest League baseball action at Memorial Stadium on Sunday.

The Hawks (1-2) averted a three-game season-opening sweep when Spokane reliever Victor Figuereo (0-1) came down with a case of the wilds.

Montanez doubled to lead off the 10th. Tony Richie drew a walk and Montanez took third on a fly-ball out by Ryan Norwood. Richie took second on a wild pitch that didn’t get far enough away from Indians catcher Lizahio Baez to score Montanez. Oscar Bernard walked to load the bases and with David Gresky at the plate Montanez scooted home with the winning run on Figuereo’s second wild pitch.

Spokane, which hosts Salem-Keizer tonight at 6:30 at Avista Stadium in its home opener, tied the game with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the ninth inning off Boise closer Kris Gross (1-0).

Lizahio Baez singled with one out and took second on a fielding error by left-fielder Montanez. After pinch-hitter Brock Jacobsen fanned for the second out, Baez moved up a base on a passed ball.

Alex Guerra walked to put runners at the corners. Baez and Guerra scored when Hawks second baseman Anthony Granato dropped a flyball off the bat of pinch-hitter Tim Hulett for a three-base error. Brandon Cashman struck out with Hulett on third to end the inning.

Spokane (2-1) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on the strength of a Jim Fasano two-run home run.

But Boise answered with three runs in their half of the first off Indians starter Kevin Altman.

Altman went five innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits. He shut out the Hawks on two hits over his final four innings.

The Indians pulled even at 3-3 in the top of the third inning on a one-out solo home run from Travis Metcalf.

Boise retook the lead in the sixth, scoring a pair of runs off reliever Marcos Herrera.

The defending Northwest League champions will send right-hander Josh Rupe to the mound tonight.

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Hawks trip Indians in 10 innings

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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