Gac attack leads Indians to fourth straight victory

The Spokane Indians turned things into a home-run derby Friday night at Avista Stadium when Ian Gac hit a pair and Jonathan Greene added one of his own to lead an 11-5 win over the Everett AquaSox in Northwest League play.

Spokane improved to 17-20 on the season and picked up its fourth straight win.

“Oh, we’re definitely on a streak now,” Indians manager Tim Hulett said. “We’ve played well. We’ve won four in a row, but we’re actually five out of six.”

Things started out slowly for the Indians as Everett scored first courtesy of a Greg Halman RBI in the first inning, and a home run from Wellington Dotel in the third.

But in the bottom of the fifth, third baseman Kenny Smith started an Indians rally when he hit a line drive down the third-base line for a double.

“I was just trying to get something started,” Smith said. “That pitcher was doing great, so I was just trying to get something going as the leadoff guy you know. Luckily it was a big inning.

“A six-run inning. Those big innings just break the back of a team and those big bats from Gac and Greene just kinda sealed the deal.”

Davis Stoneburner and Tim Smith knocked in a run apiece to get the Indians on the scoreboard.

Then with the bases loaded, and Everett pitcher Rob Harmon rattled, Ian Gac found a fastball he liked and hit a grand slam to give the Indians a 6-3 lead.

Two innings later, catcher Jonathan Greene hit his seventh home run of the season. Gac followed with his second four-bagger.

“That was a curveball, I was just trying to put the ball in play, and it worked out all right,” Gac said. “After the first two strikes when I was overswinging, I slowed it down a little.”

Gac leads the league with eight homers. He also finished the night with five runs batted in.

The two blasts against Everett marks the second time Gac has homered twice in the same game this season. He first accomplished the feat on the road against Salem-Keizer at the beginning of the season.

“I’m just really relaxed right now and going out and playing,” Gac said. “I’m making some quicker adjustments right now.”

The Indians’ four-game streak is their longest of the season. Prior to this week, they had not managed to put together more than two wins.

“It’s definitely huge for us,” Gac said. “I think we’ll keep it going for a while. Maybe not a win streak, but we’ll keep winning for a while.”

The Indians are 2 1/2 games behind the Boise Hawks for the lead in the East Division.