Indians Clobber Everett Chapman, Practice Uniforms Prove To Be Winning Formula
If it takes an ambidextrous pitcher and practice uniforms to spark the Spokane Indians to a win, then so be it.
Jake Chapman pitched six innings of two-hit ball and struck out nine, and the Indians, in their navy blue practice uniforms, beat the Everett AquaSox 9-1 in Northwest League baseball Monday night at Seafirst Stadium.
Chapman, who pitches left but is a natural righty, faced just 20 batters, two above the minimum he could have faced in six innings of work, while improving his record to 4-0. In his last two outings, he has allowed just one run on three hits in 11 innings and struck out 13.
Spokane’s Ethan Stein was scratched from his scheduled start because of back spasms and Chapman got the nod. Stein may be gone for as long as a month.
“I feel real comfortable and real confident on the mound,” Chapman said. “Buster (Spokane pitching coach Rick Keeton) has really helped me with my mechanics. Good things have been happening for about the last 15 innings.”
Chapman is a natural righthander. But when Jake was at a young age, his father saw him throw a baseball into the infield with his left hand and immediately went out and bought his son a mitt for his right hand and made him learn to throw with his left.
Thanks to Chapman, Spokane (20-27) improved its home record to 9-15. And playing in their blue practice uniforms for good luck, the Indians may well contemplate a wardrobe change.
“Sometimes you just have to try something different,” Spokane manager Bob Herold said. “Besides, ballplayers are supposed to be superstitious anyway.”
Keep on the blues, guys.
The win, coupled with a victory against Yakima in the last game of the previous homestand, marked the first time this year Spokane has won two straight at home.
Everett took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on Jason Regan’s solo home run. The Indians responded in the bottom of the inning when Jeremy Giambi hit a two-run double to give Spokane a 2-1 lead.
After Everett starter Roger Blanco walked Eric Sees and Brett Taft, Spokane’s No. 8 and No. 9 batters, Giambi hit his opposite-field shot just inside the right-field line.
Spokane added a run in the third and one in the fourth before breaking it open in the fifth.
The Indians scored four runs on three hits and two walked batters to move the lead to 8-1. Taft, Giambi, Brandon Berger and Jason Layne all drove in runs.
The Indians added one more run in the seven for good measure.
Taft, playing in his first game since the death of his grandmother, went 1 for 3, walked twice, and scored three times.
The homestand continues tonight at 7:05 against Everett.
, DataTimes MEMO: Changed from Idaho edition.