Travis Bolin’s clutch hit in ninth propels Spokane Indians past Boise Hawks 8-7
Indians outfielder Travis Bolin strolled up to home plate in a high-pressure situation with confidence, not a bead of sweat rolling down his face.
Bolin, the Rangers’ 32nd-round pick in the 2016 draft, smacked an RBI single to left field with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, allowing Spokane to rally past the Boise Hawks for an 8-7 victory Tuesday night at Avista Stadium.
Indians manager Tim Hulett told Bolin he had to want to be the hero, and even though he admits he hasn’t had the chance to do so before, he didn’t bat an eye at the situation.
“You really can only be the hero there,” Hulett said. “If not, we just keep playing.”
Bolin drove a fastball on the inside corner right past Boise shortstop Garrett Hampson, a pitch he said he was expecting to see in the situation.
“Honestly, I was really relaxed,” said Bolin, whose walk-off single was his first hit of the night. “I haven’t been in this big of situation before … but I’ve been through enough stuff where I don’t get nervous for big-time plays anymore.”
Bolin grew up in Watervliet, Michigan, a small town of about 1,800 people in the Southwest corner of the state.
He grew up with two older brothers who showed him how to get through tough situations.
“That’s how I learned to be tough,” he said. “I’ve been through a lot in my life. And now it’s nice to be going through some good times.”
And now Bolin, the darling of his 70-person high school class, gave the small town another thing to cheer for.
“Everyone thinks it’s amazing I even made it here,” Bolin said. “Being in this situation and doing well and getting a hit like this is huge.”
Xavier Turner and Stephen Lohr each singled with two outs, keeping the inning alive for the Indians and providing Bolin a chance to drive in the winning run. He capitalized, and Spokane took the second consecutive game to open the five-game Northwest League series with the Hawks.
Spokane tied the game in the bottom of the eighth, when Xavier Turner scored on an error from Boise second baseman Anthony Brito and Blaine Prescott singled on a fly ball to right field, one that should have been caught by right fielder Ryan Stephens
Down one run in the top of the seventh, Boise’s Daniel Suero scored on a passed ball by Alex Kowalczyk to tie the game at five, followed by Jacob Bosiokovic’s two-run home run.
Kowalczyk’s two-run homer provided the Indians with a early 5-2 lead in the third inning.
Willie Abreu was caught in a pickle rounding first to end the fifth inning, but not before driving in Bosiokovic with a single, bringing the Hawks within a run. Bosiokovic singled to center to drive in Garrett Hampson earlier in the inning.