Spokane Indians pregame: Blaine Crim on tear as Vancouver comes to town for three-game set

The Spokane Indians (2-1, 24-17) host the Vancouver Canadians (1-2, 16-25) in the first of a three-game Northwest League series at Avista Stadium on Friday at 6:30 p.m.

The Indians send righty Billy Layne Jr (0-0, 3.86) against RHP Alex Nolan (1-1, 2.86) for the Canadians.

Lineup: 1) Ricumstrict-CF; 2) Strahm-LF; 3) Crim-1B; 4) Asuncion-DH; 5) Kapers-C; 6) McReynolds-3B; 7) Hoover-SS; 8) Joseph-RF; 9) Inoa-2B.

Weather: First pitch – sunny, 90. Final out – clear, 73.

Player to watch: Blaine Crim. The Rangers’ 19th round pick out of Mississippi College has been on a tear lately, hitting .463 over his last 10 games with six multi-hit games, three homers and 10 RBIs over the span. He’s hitting .340/.383/.557 for the season.

Last night: Obie Ricumstrict hit two home runs and the Spokane Indians cruised to a 14-4 win over the Tri-City Dust Devils in the rubber game of a three-game Northwest League series at Gesa Stadium on Thursday.

Tri-City committed seven errors – six by Carlos Luis at third base.

Ricumstrict finished 2 for 5 with two runs and four RBIs. Blaine Crim went 5 for 6 with two runs and Luis Asuncion punished his former team with a 2-for-5 night with five RBIs.

The Indians (2-1) exploded for 10 runs in the second inning.

Juan Mejia was awarded the win. He tossed 3.1 scoreless innings of relief and struck out three. Triston Polley struck out a pair in a scoreless ninth inning.

Ex-Indians news: SP Hans Crouse allowed two runs on six hits and no walks with five strikeouts over six innings in Hickory’s 3-2 loss to West Virginia. Crouse has a 3.77 ERA for the season. J.P. Martinez went 2 for 6 with his 10th home run and eighth stolen base in Down East’s doubleheader sweep of Carolina.