Errors stop Indians short of win
Steve Marquardt’s triple off the wall in the third inning helped the Spokane Indians recover from the three errors they made in the first three innings, but it wasn’t enough for the other three.
The Indians fell to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 8-5 Tuesday night in Northwest League play in front of a crowd of 6,349 at Avista Stadium.
Spokane’s defense was plagued with six errors, including two in the first inning and one in the ninth. The Volcanoes were also fumbling the ball, but held to the two errors they made in the first two innings.
“We had a meltdown out there,” third baseman Marquardt said. “We didn’t focus and we didn’t play good, solid defense.”
The first inning resembled Monday night when the Indians took an early lead 2-1. Both teams’ leadoff batters reached base on errors.
Indians right fielder Grant Gerrard drove home leadoff hitter Craig Gentry, followed by an RBI groundout by left fielder Chris Davis.
But the Indians’ three errors in the first three innings handed over the lead to the Volcanoes, 4-2.
Trying to fight back, Marquardt lashed a two-run triple to even the score.
“I just put a swing on it and carried it to the wall,” Marquardt said.
Marquardt’s triple was soon forgotten when the Volcanoes reclaimed the lead in the fourth inning with the Texas Rangers’ No. 1 draft pick, Kasey Kiker, on the mound.
Indians designated hitter Nick Cadena put the Indians back in the game when he hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth, tying the score at 5.
“I thought we did a good job battling and keeping us close,” Indians manager Mike Micucci said. “We need to clean up stuff on defense.”
Right-hander Adam Schaecher entered in the seventh inning, but was taken out after giving up two runs in the top of the ninth, giving the Volcanoes the lead for the final time.
Spokane had its final error in the top of the ninth, leading to the Volcanoes’ eighth run.
“We need to have a short memory and forget about it,” Marquardt said about facing the Volcanoes again today.
Game three of the five-game series will be at 6:30 p.m. today.