Looking for a break
Kasey Kiker should walk a wide circle around casinos, bingo halls or any venue selling lottery tickets.
A streak of hard luck continued last night for the Texas Rangers’ 2006 first-round draft pick, an ill-timed throwing error sabotaging Kiker’s bid for his first professional victory in a 4-2 loss to Northwest League rival Yakima in the Indians’ home finale at Avista Stadium.
Spokane’s season will conclude following a three-game series in Yakima.
An 18-year-old southpaw, Kiker fell to 0-7 and likely will end his first season in the minor leagues without a victory. He carried a 1-0 lead into the fifth inning before the Indians’ defense faltered behind him.
Yakima loaded the bases with no outs, but Kiker induced two weak groundballs that resulted in a pair of force outs at home. Catcher Chad Tracy tried to turn the second out into an inning-ending double play, however, and his throw to first sailed into the outfield and allowed Yakima’s Jason Watson and Edwin Roman to score. That turned the Bears’ one-run deficit into a lead they would keep.
Spokane manager Mike Micucci said he’ll walk away from the season with a positive review of Kiker’s performance this year.
“His record has nothing to do with how he did,” Micucci said. “He’s really changed between Day One when he got here and now. It’s his maturity.”
Kiker was a standout pitcher at Russell County High School in Phenix City, Ala., a city located just west of the Georgia state line. Kiker said the speed of the NWL game is much quicker, and he added that opposing hitters are much more capable of making him pay for a misplaced pitch.
Last night was Kiker’s 15th start. He said the lack of victories won’t tarnish the experience he’s gained pitching for the Indians.
“It’s about a process, and I think I got the process down this year,” said Kiker, who struck out five, walked two and gave up four hits in five innings. “As far as the record, you can’t worry about it. I know I’m not a loser.”
Spokane grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third on Thomas Berkery’s solo home run to left field. The Indians scored their only other run in the sixth on Jay Heafner’s RBI single to cut Yakima’s lead to 3-2.
Yakima cemented its victory with Justin Brashear’s solo home run in the sixth and Brad Miller’s run scored on a wild pitch in the eighth.
Bears reliever Chad Beck scattered four hits over the final six innings to earn the win. He struck out five and didn’t walk a batter.
More than 6,200 fans were in attendance to watch the Indians’ final home game, adding to the team’s league-leading tally. Spokane finished the season with attendance totaling 182,091 – an average of 4,792 fans per night – the team’s highest figure since 2000. Vancouver is second in the league with season attendance of 113,111 and wraps up its season with three more home games.