Indians win third straight
Lanphere allows one run, three hits
VANCOUVER, B.C. – After a short three-day All-Star break, the Spokane Indians returned to the diamond and returned to their pre-break winning ways.
Behind Luke Lanphere’s solid pitching outing, and a four-run seventh inning by the Spokane hitters, the Indians defeated the Vancouver Giants 4-1 Thursday night at Nat Bailey Stadium.
After starting the second half of the season with four straight losses, Spokane has bounced back with three straight wins.
The Indians now sit one game behind first-half champion Tri-City in the Northwest League North Division standings.
Lanphere kept the Giants at bay, pitching seven innings, while allowing one run on three hits and striking out three.
Thankfully for Lanphere (3-0), the Indians bats came alive, allowing the right-hander to remain unbeaten.
Leon Byrd followed back-to-back singles by Diego Cedeno and Todd McDonald with a run-scoring double that scored Cedeno and knotted the score at 1.
Ti’Quan Forbes singled home McDonald and Byrd, giving Spokane the lead. Forbes scored later in the inning after back-to-back throwing errors, giving Spokane its final tally and a 4-1 lead.
Adam Choplick pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth innings, allowing a hit and striking out three to earn his second save of the season.
The second game of the three-game series is today at 1:05 p.m. An eight-game homestand begins Sunday.