Spokane continues struggle north of border

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The Spokane Indians have not created an international sensation.

James Heuser (4-3) threw six innings of three-hit ball and Matt Sulentic drove in three runs Thursday night as the Vancouver Canadians pounded Spokane 8-2 in Northwest League baseball play at Nat Bailey Stadium.

Vancouver (20-11) has won the first four games of the five-game series, outscoring the Indians 37-12. Spokane (12-19) will be trying to avoid its second five-game sweep of the season.

Heuser struck out six and walked three in lowering his earned run average to 3.82.

Sulentic’s RBI single to center started Vancouver’s two-run first off Mike Ballard (1-4). Sulentic’s two-run double to left in the third gave the Canadians a 4-0 lead.

The advantage grew to 6-0 on Samuel Hernandez’s two-run double to left in the fourth.

Jacob Smith’s RBI single to left in the fifth boosted the lead to 7-0. Ballard’s work ended after the fifth, having allowed 10 hits and six earned runs.

Spokane finally touched up Heuser for a run in the sixth. Joey Hooft walked to open the inning and scored on Steve Marquardt’s two-out triple to left-center.

Vancouver responded in its sixth with Wilber Perez’s two-out RBI single to right.

Derrick Gordon replaced Heuser in the seventh. The first batter he faced, Chris Davis, homered to right for his fourth blast of the season, one behind Chad Tracy for the club lead.

The series ends this afternoon.

Spokane begins a six-game homestand Saturday with the first of three games against the Tri-City Dust Devils. Spokane will also face East Division-leading Boise during the homestand.