Indians can’t finish off comeback against West-leading Vancouver

The Spokane Indians’ comeback fell short Saturday night as the Vancouver Canadians took the opener of a five-game series between Northwest League division leaders 7-5 before a sellout crowd of 7,321 at Avista Stadium.

The Indians, leaders in the East, tied the game in the eighth, but the West-leading Canadians scored two in the ninth to win.

Spokane reliever Tom Van Buskirk began the ninth by plunking Steve Kleen on his left arm and then misplayed two bunts down the first-base line to give the Canadians (35-17) the lead and their third consecutive win over the Indians (23-29).

After hitting Kleen, Van Buskirk was unable to field a bunt by Chalon Tietje, to put runners on first and second with none out, and then threw the ball past the first baseman on Jeff Bieker’s bunt.

“That first (bunt) just got past me,” said Van Buskirk, a right-handed submarine-style pitcher, who falls to the right of the mound after his delivery. “And I didn’t want to make a stupid throw … but, unfortunately I made it in the second (bunt).”

The throwing error allowed Kleen to score the go-ahead run from second.

After an intentional walk loaded the bases and a strikeout got the first out of the inning, the Canadians got a second run on a slow grounder to second base that couldn’t be converted into a double play by second baseman Julio Santana and shortstop German Duran. Van Buskirk then struck out Ezekiel Parraz to get out of the inning.

Van Buskirk (1-1) got the loss – his first of the season. He gave up one hit and two unearned runs in 11/3 innings pitched.

Vancouver closer Brad Kilby came in the ninth and retired the Indians 1-2-3 to get his 11tth save of the season.

Down 5-4 in the eighth, the Indians tied the game on a double by Freddie Thon that scored Terry Blunt from third. Blunt came into the game as a pinch runner for Jonathan Higashi, who led off the inning with a double.

Higashi had three hits, all doubles.

In the fifth inning, K.C. Herren hit his second home run of the season when he drove the first pitch he saw by Vancouver starter Jonathan Piekarz , a high change-up, over the right-field wall.

Piekarz, who went six innings and gave up three runs on seven hits while striking out five, got the win.

Despite the loss, the Indians maintained a one-game lead in the East over both Boise and Yakima, which also lost Saturday.

Notes

Joey Hooft tested out his injured ankle by doing some running drills prior to the game, but continues to be day-to-day. Phillip Hawke (thumb) also continues to be day-to-day. … The Indians are 2-4 against Vancouver, this season. They are 15-16 when facing the West. … Spokane’s Dave Smith (1-0, 1.02 ERA) will face off against Vancouver’s Trey Shield (3-1, 2.57) in today’s game. Shields has 40 strikeouts in 42 innings. Smith has not allowed a run in his last 102/3 innings.