Indians come up one win shy of tying club record for opening win streak

VANCOUVER, B.C. – The Spokane Indians fell one win shy of tying the long-standing club record for most wins to start a season Friday when they lost to the Vancouver Canadians 3-0 in the second game of a Northwest League doubleheader at Nat Bailey Stadium.

Spokane (6-1) won the nine-inning opener 7-3 to match the 6-0 start set by the 1937 Indians of the Western International League. The 1937 club is also the only one to start a season 7-0.

Spokane outhit Vancouver 5-4 in the seven-inning second game, but the Canadians (4-4) stole home in the second inning and took advantage of an outfield error to score twice in the third.

Spokane won the series against its North Division rival and three-time defending league champions 2-1. The teams played a doubleheader because Thursday’s game was suspended by rain.

The Indians snapped a 3-all tie in the opener with a three-run sixth against Justin Shafer (0-1). Juremi Profar singled home the second run and Fernando Vivili followed with an RBI double to the base of the wall in left field.

Ryan Ledbetter (1-0) pitched three innings for the win, allowing two hits and one earned run. Luis Pollorena earned his first save, allowing one hit in three innings while striking out two and walking none.

Derek Thompson (1-1) pitched well while absorbing the second-game loss. Thompson worked five innings, allowing four hits and one earned run. He struck out four and walked none.

Indians second baseman Seth Spivey went 4 for 7 in the doubleheader to increase his average to .524.

Spokane returns home tonight for the first of five games with the Boise Hawks. The Indians are 4-0 at home.