Emeralds clean up on Indians

EUGENE, Ore. – The Eugene Emeralds piled up 18 hits en route to a 17-4 whipping of the Spokane Indians Wednesday night in a Northwest League baseball game.

Indians starter Kasey Kiker didn’t escape the first inning as the Emeralds used three hits, three walks, two errors and a sacrifice fly to score five runs. They added another run in the second.

Spokane loaded the bases with none out in the third inning, but could only come up with one run when Julio Santana scored on Grant Gerrard’s groundout. The Indians picked up another run on Chris Kemp’s first homer, a shot to right field, in the fourth.

But then the game got out of hand.

The Emeralds added three runs in the fourth inning, four in the fifth, three in seventh, and another in the eighth. Included in the onslaught were homers by David Freese and Chad Huffman.

The second Indians pitcher, Adam Schaecher, took the brunt, giving up eight runs, seven earned, over four innings.

The Indians picked up seven hits, two from Craig Gentry.

The Indians head to Yakima for three games with the Bears beginning tonight.