Ex-Infielder Tops On Hill Converted Second Baseman Wins As Yakima Turns Back Spokane

One bad showing by the Savannah Sand Gnats launched Lance Backowski’s pitching career.

Until last year, Backowski considered himself a second baseman. Trouble is, he showed little promise at the plate, hitting .193 for Yakima in 1995, and .122 (6 for 49) for Savannah (Ga.) in ‘96.

Then one night, with the Sand Gnats taking a beating, manager John Shoemaker recalled the knuckleball Backowski flashed for fun during practices. He inserted Backowski for one inning, and three batters went down swinging.

Batters are still swinging, with mixed results, at Backowski’s knuckler. Wednesday afternoon at Seafirst Stadium, Yakima’s Backowski struck out six in five innings in defeating the Spokane Indians 11-4.

Backowski (2-10), who threw 111 pitches, won for the first time since July 14. Although he lost two previous starts to Spokane, Indians power hitters have often looked silly trying to catch up to Backowski’s flutterer.

“When you’re really aggressive with (the knuckler), it puts me at an advantage,” said Backowski, a Richland native.

Yakima (21-41) won the three-game series 2-1. Spokane holds a 6-3 edge in a season series that will include three more games.

The Indians (36-26) remained four games behind Northwest League North Division leader Boise, (40-21), which lost at Everett Wednesday night.

Everett was the lone team Backowski had beaten, yet his recent starts have been solid.

“I would think that he would get better and better with that pitch,” said Indians manager Jeff Garber.

Backowski had a brief stint last year with San Bernardino (Calif.), where former Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers knuckleballer Charlie Hough is the pitching coach.

Off-season work gave Backowski enough confidence to throw the knuckleball when he’s behind in the count.

Loss after loss, Backowski has received support.

“I give credit to my coaches,” Backowski said. “They could start somebody else, but they keep putting me out there.”

Wednesday’s matchup appeared to heavily favor Spokane, with NWL earned-run-average and strikeout leader Justin Pedersen (1.98, 78) starting for the Indians.

Yet Pedersen (5-2) lasted only 1-1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and five earned runs. Yakima’s five-run first included six singles, a Pedersen throwing error, two passed balls and one wild pitch.

“When you fall behind that quickly, it’s hard to come back, especially when you’re seeing a guy with an abnormal pitch,” Garber said.

Kirk Taylor’s three-run homer in the sixth cut Yakima’s lead to 7-4, but the Bears scored one in the seventh and three in the eighth. Taylor has two hits, both homers, since joining the Indians.

Taylor entered in the fourth, after center fielder Goefrey Tomlinson’s sore hamstring acted up. Tomlinson, 2 for 2, has a 12-game hitting streak during which he’s 26 for 50 (.520).

The top of Yakima’s order, Kimani Newton, Derrick Peoples, Wynter Phoenix and Cash Riley, went 8 for 17, with seven runs scored and seven RBIs. Newton homered to lead off the second inning and Phoenix hit a two-run shot in the eighth.

Scott Key, who relieved Pedersen, struck out nine and allowed three hits in 5-2/3 innings.

“(Key) held them and gave us a chance, but we couldn’t get the hits in key positions,” Garber said.

Eugene begins a five-game set in Spokane at 7:05 tonight. The Indians are 3-2 against the Emeralds, the last South Division team on the regular schedule. Dan Reichert (2-3, 3.38) is Spokane’s scheduled starter.

Bears 11, Indians 4 Yakima Spokane ab r h bi ab r h bi Newton cf 4 2 2 2 Tomlinson cf 2 1 2 0 Peoples lf 5 2 2 1 Taylor cf 3 1 1 3 Phoenix rf 3 2 2 2 Caruso 2b 5 0 1 0 Riley dh 5 1 2 2 Brown lf 4 0 1 0 King 1b 4 0 0 0 LeBron dh 5 0 2 1 Bell ss 5 2 3 1 Willis 3b 4 0 0 0 Flores c 5 1 1 1 Blosser 1b 3 0 0 0 Balbuena 3b 3 1 1 1 Bautista rf 2 1 0 0 Allen 2b 4 0 0 0 Hill c 2 1 1 0 Ligons ss 3 0 0 0 Totals 38 11 13 10 Totals 33 4 8 4 Yakima 511 000 130 11 Spokane 100 003 000 4 EBell (30), Allen (1), Blosser (11), Pederson (1). DPYakima 3, Spokane 1. LOBYakima 5, Spokane 9. 2BNewton (5), Peoples (5), Bell (12), Tomlinson (15), Hill (10). HRNewton (2), Phoenix (3), Taylor (2). SBNewton (15), Phoenix (5), Bell (6), Balbuena (6), Tomlinson (15). CSNewton (2).

Yakima IP H R ER BB SO Backowski W,2-10 5 6 1 1 5 6 Everly S,2 4 2 3 3 1 2 Spokane IP H R ER BB SO Pederson L,5-2 1-1/3 7 6 5 2 1 Key 5-2/3 3 2 2 2 9 Yanz 1 3 3 3 0 1 Burton 1 0 0 0 0 0 HBP-by Everly (Hill), by Yanz (Balbuena). WP-Backowski, Everly, Pederson, Key 2. PB-Flores, Hill 2. T-3:13. A-3,525.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ON DECK Eugene and Spokane start a five-game series at Seafirst Stadium tonight at 7:05 p.m.