Spokane Indians limited to three hits in series-ending loss to Salem-Keizer
KEIZER, Ore. – After a season-opening seven-game road trip, the Spokane Indians seem ready for some home cooking.
The Indians managed just three base runners – all singles – against three Salem-Keizer Volcanoes pitchers in a 6-0 loss in the finale of a four-game Northwest League series at Volcanoes Stadium on Thursday.
It’s the first time this season the Indians have been shut out.
The Indians (5-2) begin a seven-game homestand on Friday and expect to start Ricky Vanseco against the Boise Hawks for the home opener.
Jonah McReynolds, Luis Asuncion and Kenen Irizarry had base hits for Spokane, which didn’t advanced a runner to second.
The Volcanoes got all the runs they would need in the first inning against Indians starter Theo McDowell. Simon Whiteman reached on a tapper that McDowell couldn’t make a play on, went to second on a groundout, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Yorlis Rodriguez.
Sean Roby reached on an infield single and Franklin Labour walked to load the bases with one down. Ricardo Genoves singled home a run, and manager Kenny Hook lifted his struggling starter after six batters.
Juan Castillo took over and picked up a strikeout, but uncorked a wild pitch on an 0-2 count to allow an inherited runner to score.
McDowell’s final line included three runs on four hits and a walk – and one retired batter.
S-K scored again in the second off Castillo. Kwan Adkins led off with a single, moved up two bases on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Sean Roby. Labour followed with an RBI double to make it 5-0.
After a walk and double allowed the Volcanoes to add another run in the fourth, Castillo got the hook in favor of Daniel Robert.
Castillo allowed three earned runs on four hits and four walks with three strikeouts over 2 2/3 innings.
Meanwhile, the Indians were completely shut down by S-K starter Jacob Lopez, who allowed just one hit and struck out six over five shutout innings. Reliever Andy Rohloff took over in the sixth and put up two hitless innings as Volcanoes pitchers set down 16 consecutive Indians hitters.
Jonah McReynolds halted the streak with a leadoff single in the eighth inning, but he was stranded by three more consecutive outs.
The silver lining came from a pair of Indians relievers.
Robert, Spokane’s third pitcher of the night, struck out five and allowed two base runners over three innings. Nic Laio came on for the seventh and struck out the side, then tossed a scoreless eighth with another K.