Potent offense keeps Indians rolling
The hits started in the first inning and kept piling up. The Spokane Indians accounted for a season-high 15 hits Monday while improving their record to 9-1 with a 12-6 win over Boise in Northwest League play at Avista Stadium. Spokane had four hits, all after two outs, during a three-run third, and another four hits during a four-run sixth. The Indians' previous high for hits in a game was 12, accomplished four times. Read story
The Indians have six players among the top 12 in Northwest League batting: Seth Spivey, .500; Luke Tendler, .467; Eduard Pinto, .389; Fernando Vivili, .344; Marcus Greene, .333; and Jose Trevino, .324.
Spivey, the league leader, missed his second consecutive game because of a neck twinge.
Greene doubled and scored twice from the No. 5 spot.
" 'Greeney' came out of it a little bit tonight. I thought he swung the bat well," Indians manager Tim Hulett said.
Spokane leads the league with a team batting average of .293. Tri-City (.263) is the closest team to Spokane.
The Indians have scored five runs or more in eight of their 10 games. Spokane (56) is second to Boise (64) in runs scored, but the Hawks have played one more game. Boise scored 54 runs in its first eight games but has been limited to 10 in three games in Spokane.
One thing that won't be an Indians hallmark: stolen bases. Spokane is last in the league with seven stolen bases, but with so many hits Hulett doesn't need to move runners along as much.
Spokane also leads the NWL in team earned-run average at 2.48, thanks to the bullpen's 1.48 mark. South Division-leading Hillsboro is second at 2.57.
The Indians also lead the league in saves (six), with John Fasola leading the way with two, and fewest walks (21). Despite its low ERA, Spokane's staff is not a strikeout machine. Indians pitchers have 77 strikeouts, which is tied for last place in the league.
Spokane pitchers only issued one walk on Monday, but they went deep into many counts.
"We were behind every hitter tonight," Hulett said. "We need to do better at throwing strikes and getting ahead in the count."
Spokane is 7-0 against the South Division: 3-0 vs. Boise and 4-0 vs. Eugene.
