Indians run over Hawks to break first-place tie

BOISE – The Spokane Indians have first place in the Northwest League East Division all to themselves once again.

Lizahio Baez drove in four runs with four singles and John Mayberry went 5 for 5 with three doubles as Spokane separated itself from a first-place tie with Boise with a 14-1 pounding of the Hawks Friday night.

Spokane (23-28) leads the division by one-game over Boise and Yakima and two games over Tri-City. Yakima beat Tri-City 8-3 Friday.

Kellan McConnell was brilliant on the mound for Spokane, pitching seven scoreless innings of two-hit ball with six strikeouts and no walks.

Spokane scored three runs in the top of the first inning after two outs with five straight hits, including RBI singles by Baez, Freddie Thon and Taylor Teagarden.

Teagarden tripled leading off the fourth inning and scored on a wild pitch by Hawks reliever Kyle Holden to make it 4-0.

The Indians broke the game open with a six-run fifth inning, highlighted by two-run singles by Baez and Julio Santana.

Spokane tacked on four more runs in the top of the ninth, including an RBI single by Baez and a two-run double by Mayberry.

Boise managed its only run in the seventh inning on a wild pitch by Spokane reliever Warren Rosebrock.

Notes

Phillip Hawke and Joey Hooft are each expected to miss at least today and tomorrow after leaving Thursday night’s game with injuries – Hawke’s left thumb after being hit by a pitch and Hooft’s right foot after fouling a pitch off it. … A limited number of standing room only and obstructed view seats remain for tonight’s series-opening game against Vancouver.