Tribe Wastes Pitching Gem

As Eric Brown’s two-run homer sailed over the left-field fence in the 10th inning Saturday, Jake Chapman probably felt like the bad guys in “Twister:” Demolished.

Chapman, making his third start, pitched the best game by a Spokane Indian since Glenn Dishman’s no-hitter in 1993.

Chapman allowed just a bloop single to the Yakima Bears in eight innings, but his teammates couldn’t manufacture a run. Modesto Villarreal (1-4) relieved Chapman in the ninth and was on the hill when Brown’s fifth homer of the year gave Yakima its 2-0 Northwest League win.

Yakima (22-30) swept the three-game series, won its fifth straight and tied Spokane for third place in the North Division. The Bears are 7-3 against Spokane this year, 3-0 in extra-inning games.

Spokane couldn’t have asked for more from Chapman. The 22-year-old lefty struck out 10 and walked two.

In his three starts Chapman has allowed four hits and one earned run in 19 innings, striking out 24 and walking three. Chapman’s no-hit bid ended in the sixth when Rich Saitta blooped a two-out single to right.

Saitta’s ninth-inning single against Villarreal was the only other Bears safety before extras.

With one out in the 10th, Matt Meyer zipped a single to center that sent Villarreal to the ground. The close call may have affected Villarreal, who gave up the long ball to the next batter, Brown.

Yakima starter Ted Lilly and reliever Dean Mitchell (2-2) nearly matched Chapman.

Lilly, who allowed two hits and struck out eight in six innings, lowered his earned-run average to 0.83. He has 43 Ks in 32 innings.

Mitchell gave up one hit and struck out six in four innings.

Lilly pitched perfect ball until Carlos Beltran led off the fifth with a bouncing single to center.

Spokane’s best chance to score came in the sixth when Eric Sees led off with a double. Yakima third baseman Damian Rolls was nearly the goat when he dropped a throw from shortstop on Rick Pitts’ one-out grounder.

Lilly, however, struck out league hitting leader Brandon Berger for the third time, then Rolls made a diving stop on a Beltran grounder and barely threw to first in time.

The Indians travel to Medford today for the first of four games against Southern Oregon. Spokane’s Steve Hueston (2-1, 2.47) draws the start.

, DataTimes