Indians endure thumping

Win big one day, lose big the next: that’s been the nature of the Spokane Indians’ season to date.

The Indians gave up 17 hits in Monday night’s 15-4 Northwest League loss to the Boise Hawks at Avista Stadium in the second game of the series.

Monday night’s rainy loss stood in stark contrast to Spokane’s big win from the night before that saw the Indians muster up 13 hits in their 11-1 drubbing of the Hawks.

Spokane has struggled to put together back-to-back wins all season. The Indians’ longest winning streak stands at two – against Vancouver three weeks ago.

But no one seems to know how to remedy the situation.

“If I knew what the problem was, I’d fix it,” Indians manager Tim Hulett said. “We just have to give a better effort.”

Things started out on an optimistic note, with outfielder Eric Fly producing a two-run home run in only his third game in an Indians uniform.

Fly, who joined the team from the rookie leagues last week, drove home first baseman Ian Gac with his first home run at the single-A level.

Everything unraveled from that point on.

The Hawks came out swinging in the fourth and scored six runs off Indians’ left-hander Ryan Tatusko.

Hulett described the Indians’ loss as a complete defeat on all fronts.

“We didn’t pitch well, we didn’t play defense well, and we didn’t swing the bats well. It was a combination,” Hulett said.

But the Indians’ bullpen had a particularly nightmarish night.

Tatusko and the bullpen gave up a season-high 11 walks in the worst loss suffered by Spokane this season.

The normally reliable Hector Nelo entered the game in the eighth inning with a 0.90 earned run average and was pulled at the end of the inning with a 3.27 ERA after he gave up four hits and two runs and walked three batters.

Even the Indians’ workhorse Andrew Laughter had trouble finding his groove in his first game back from a shoulder injury sustained against Vancouver.

“Laughter was just coming back, getting the work in, and sometimes that’s a hard situation to pitch well in,” Hulett said.

Laughter came in for Nelo in the ninth, and allowed a hit and a base on balls before the Indians’ defense finally helped him notch an out.

“It’s just one day we can’t pitch good, play good defense. The next day we pitch good, can’t play good defense,” said designated hitter Jonathan Greene, who leads the Indians in home runs with six.

Greene contributed an RBI in the seventh, but couldn’t muster up any of the firepower that had culminated in a home run, a triple and four RBIs the night before.

At the plate, the Hawks were led by shortstop Dylan Johnston. Johnston ended the night 5 for 5 with two RBIs and two doubles in his own return from injury

“I had three days rest because I hurt my thumb laying down a tag when a guy was stealing,” Johnston said. “So I think (the rest) helped. It was a good day.”

Even with the loss, the Indians (13-20) remain in second place in the Eastern Division. Boise (17-17) leads the division.