‘Bye-bye’ Baez hits two home runs to lead Indians

Every night a different player has stepped up to the plate and become a star for the Spokane Indians.

It was Lizahio Baez’s turn on Friday night.

Behind two home runs from Baez, Spokane defeated the Eugene Emeralds 5-4 at Avista Stadium before a crowd of 4,838.

Baez, who played with the Indians last year, said he feels at home in Spokane. There’s no reason to doubt the Dominican as he has three homers and six runs batted in since arriving on Thursday from the Clinton (Iowa) LumberKings.

“I feel a little bit better being here,” said Baez, who went 3 for 4 with three RBIs. “Here I feel loose, without pressure, and I feel at home.”

With the LumberKings, the Texas Rangers’ long-season Class A team in the Midwest League, Baez was hitting .221 with five homers and 24 RBIs, but he had also struck out 32 times in 181 at-bats.

Baez, who had hit his six previous homers from the left side, hit Friday’s blasts from the right side. His shot in the third inning gave the Indians a 4-2 lead and the homer in the sixth provided the fifth and winning run.

“The great thing is that every night is someone new contributing,” said Indians manager Greg Riddoch, who was back with the team after missing Thursday’s game for a minor surgical procedure. “It’s not a one-man show. It’s a team thing, and when everybody is contributing it’s a good thing.”

After four pitchers held the Emeralds (10-8) to five hits, Jon Wilson worked a perfect ninth to get his third save of the season.

Spokane picked up its third consecutive series win. The Indians (10-8), who lead the Northwest League East Division by one game over Tri-City (9-9), will travel to Pasco today to begin a three-game series with the Dust Devils.

The Indians were held hitless by Eugene’s Josh Greer until the third. Joe Kemp led off the third with a double, moved to third base on Johnny Washington’s sacrifice, and scored on Joey Hooft’s grounder to shortstop. Hooft, on first with a fielder’s choice, scored on Steve Murphy’s 10th double of the year.

Eugene manager Roy Howell then called on left-hander Danny De La O to face Baez. Hitting from the right side, Baez launched De La O’s first pitch over the fence in left-center for a 4-2 lead as it began to rain.

The Emeralds knotted the game at 4 in the fourth. Spokane starter Juan Carlos Garcia, who had thrown 81 pitches in three innings, gave up back-to-back singles to begin the fourth. Billy Richardson then bunted to Garcia, who threw wildly to third, allowing Mike Sansoe to score. Garcia didn’t record an out before giving way to Cain Byrd.

Baez’s other homer came off Arnold Hughey (1-1), when the rain was at its heaviest.

Nate Fogle (1-0), who relieved Byrd to start the sixth, struck out three in two innings and earned the win.

Notes

Spokane infielder Johnny Washington was called up to the Clinton LumberKings and will depart for Iowa today. David Peterson, a shortstop from George Fox University in Oregon, will take Washington’s place and join the team in Pasco. … Emeralds catcher Nick Hundley went 5 for 20 in the series, but had three homers and eight RBIs. He went 0 for 3 on Friday. … Spokane has a rare day off on Tuesday. The Indians’ next home series, against the Yakima Bears, begins Wednesday.