Indians come close, but can’t recover from early deficit

EVERETT – Spokane was mere inches from a successful two-out rally in the ninth inning, but lost to Everett 7-4 in Northwest League baseball action Saturday.

Trailing 7-4 in the ninth inning, the Indians loaded the bases with successive two-out singles by Joe Napoli, Wally Backman Jr., and Craig Gentry. But the game ended when Joey Hooft hit a deep fly to the warning track in left field.

Before the ninth, the Indians managed just two hits. The first was a three-run homer in the second inning by Napoli, his first of the season. The smash tied the game at 3. The Aquasox answered with another three-run inning to lead 6-3 after two innings.

The Indians’ other hit was a solo home run by Chad Davis in the sixth inning, his 10th of the season.

Indians starter Juan Carlos Garcia, who gave up another run in the third inning, pitched just three innings. He gave up seven runs on seven hits. Relievers Austin Weilep and Shannon Wirth combined to pitch five shutout innings for the Indians.