Killian adds life to Spokane’s offense in series-tying win
Billy Killian made some adjustments to his batting swing this past week and on Saturday night it paid off.
Killian went 3 for 3 with an RBI in the Spokane Indians’ 8-4 win over the Everett AquaSox in Northwest League baseball play in front of a crowd of 6,652 at Avista Stadium.
Killian, who is usually a catcher, batted in the No. 9 slot as a designated hitter and entered the game hitting .243.
“I’ve been staying with the approach and trying to lock it in,” Killian said. “(Being a designated hitter) is the extreme opposite of catching – with just hitting, it’s a different mind-set.”
Spokane’s hitting instructors have worked with Killian, who has put in plenty of time in the batting cage.
“I try and stay relaxed and do what they tell me to,” Killian said.
Spokane (11-15) totaled 12 hits, including two RBI doubles in the third, a two-run home run from Nick Cadena in the fifth, and a three-run homer from Chad Tracy in the fifth, evening the five-game series at 2-2.
Cadena went into the game with a team-leading .306 batting average and finished the night 2 for 5 with three RBIs after going 3 for 4 on Friday night against the AquaSox.
Everett (14-12) totaled nine hits and walked five Spokane batters.
Everett scored three runs in the eighth with three hits, including an RBI double from Dean Zorn and an RBI single from Manelik Pimentel. Spokane third baseman Steve Marquardt had two fielding errors in the inning.
Everett posted its first run in the second inning with the help of two errors by Spokane shortstop Thomas Berkery, who has nine errors for the season. Marquardt leads the team with 12.
“It’s part of the learning process,” Spokane manager Mike Micucci said. “They’re young kids always moving around. (Marquardt) has been working on his defense and we tell the guys to worry about the process.”
The Indians recovered quickly in the third with Killian’s RBI double to score Joe Napoli, who had singled. Cadena followed with an RBI double, giving the Indians a 2-1 lead.
Cadena hit a two-run homer in the fifth to left field, bringing home Killian, who had singled. With the bases loaded from walks, Chris Davis knocked in another run on a fielder’s choice, giving Spokane a 5-1 lead.
With two outs in the sixth, Spokane homer leader Tracy hit his fifth with two runners on – his second in the Everett series – which ties him for second in the NWL. Tracy, who also leads the Indians with 18 RBIs, went 1 for 2 with two walks, a strikeout and a hit by pitch.