SPOKANE — It may have been the Spokane Indians solid pitching or perhaps their timely hitting. Either way the combination of both made for a long night for the Everett AquaSox.
Spokane had at least a hit in every inning, compiling 15 hits in its convincing 8-3 Northwest League victory over the Everett AquaSox before a standing room only crowd at Avista Stadium Friday night.
It wasn’t enough that the Indians’ batters were spraying the ball all over the field, but Spokane’s pitchers also were impressive holding Everett to just five hits in tying the season-opening series at two games apiece.
Three Spokane pitchers combined on the five-hitter, striking out nine Everett batters and walking one.
All of Everett’s runs came on home runs. Luis Nunez hit Everett’s first home run of the season, a solo shot to lead off the third inning. He accounted for two of Everett’s five hits, finishing 2-for-2.
The AquaSox (2-2) tacked on two more runs in the ninth when designated hitter Nate Tenbrink hit a two-run home run.
What made Tenbrink’s first professional home run even more special was that he hit it off his Kansas State teammate, Spokane reliever Trevor Hurley.
Both players were picked earlier this month in Major League Baseball’s draft — Tenbrink a 19th-round selection of the Seattle Mariners and Hurley 22nd-round pick up by the Texas Rangers.
The Indians jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning behind three consecutive singles. Spokane (2-2) scored again on a two-run home run by Eric Fry in the third inning that gave the Indians the 4-1 advantage. Fry’s homer was his second of the season.
Everett reliever Matt Renfree, who had struck out the side in the fifth inning, struggled in the sixth, allowing four runs on the three hits as the Indians increased their lead to 8-1. Three of the runs charged to Renfree were forced in by walks from Frogs reliever Marquis Pettis.
After Robbie Dominguez relieved Pettis, the AquaSox escaped further damage when Spokane right fielder Joey Butler’s grounder hit baserunner Ogata for the third and final out of the inning.
The Frogs wrap up their series with the Indians tonight, then return to Everett Memorial Stadium for their home opener against Boise at 7:05 p.m. Sunday.
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