Indians fizzle in opener

Five Spokane Indians pitchers made their debut during Monday night’s season opener against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.

To start off the Class A short-season, the Indians cycled through five pitchers in the 10-3 loss in front of a sold out crowd at 7,300-seat Avista Stadium, the largest crowd in 10 years. The first pitch wasn’t thrown until 6:47 p.m. because of the opening day festivities, including presenting the Indians with their 2005 Northwest League Championship trophy.

Come game time, the Indians jumped ahead right away in the first inning when left fielder Chris Davis drove in Craig Gentry, who had drawn a leadoff walk.

However, the lead was soon gone as the Indians were unable to get any consistency out of their pitching staff.

“I’m not happy that we’re not throwing first-pitch strikes, but five pitchers got their feet wet,” pitching coach Danny Clark said. “There were too many walks.”

Craig Whitaker, the San Francisco Giants’ 2003 first-round draft pick, started for the Volcanoes and gave up only two runs in four innings, compared to the double digits given-up by the Indians’ arms.

Indians right-hander Jose Jaimes, a veteran minor-leaguer who spent the last two years with the Arizona League Rangers, started on the mound, but was back in the bullpen after walking five and giving up two runs in the first three innings. Michael Wagner, from Washington State University, relieved Jaimes, but opened up the fourth inning with a walk and gave up four runs.

“It was fun to get out there but I wish it would have gone better,” Wagner said. “I need better fastball command.”

Right-hander Derrick Jones opened up the fifth and in his two-inning appearance, gave up three runs, including a home run, giving the Volcanoes a 9-2 lead going into the bottom of the sixth.

Austin Weilep, a right-hander from Lewis-Clark State College, took over in the seventh and gave up one run in two innings.

With Salem-Keizer base runners on first and second, right fielder Grant Gerrard got the Indians out of the eighth inning by making back-to-back diving catches.

Closer Brennan Garr ended the substitution cycle for the Indians and the base running for the Volcanoes.

Clark said after his first look, he will sit down and re-evaluate his bullpen – plugging in pitchers in a three- or four-day rotation that he feels satisfied with.

Game two of the five-game series will be at 6:30 p.m. today at Avista Stadium. The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a 2005 Spokane Indians NWL Championship hat.