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Yellow Jacket Stings Volcanoes Again

June 26, 2004 - Northwest League (NWL1) - Spokane Indians News Release


SPOKANE, WA – The Spokane Indians (5-3) fell behind Salem-Keizer (4-4) early, for the third straight game, only this one turned out for the better with Spokane pulling out a ninth inning 7-6 victory. Tonight was a game of parody in front of 6,421 screaming, hungry fans at Avista Stadium on the first NAPA $1 Family Feast Night of the season. In a back and forth, see-saw series, the Indians came out on top in the rubber game as Indians catcher Mike Nickeas delivered his second game winning hit of the series. After taking the first two games of the series from the Volcanoes, the Indians got a dose of their own medicine in the third and fourth games as Salem-Keizer evened the series at two games apiece.

After eight back and forth innings that saw both teams score runs in quick offensive bursts, the Indians put together a rally in the ninth to end the game on getaway day for both teams. Brandon CashmanÂ’s one out free pass from Trevor Wohlgemuth (0-1) put the winning run on base. With Travis Metcalf at the dish, Cashman stole second base to move into scoring position. Metcalf, who started the season on a tear before being held in check for much of the series, came though in the clutch moving Cashman to third with a rocket single to left field. Cashman had to hold up at third on the Metcalf single because the Kansas Jayhawk simply hit the ball too hard to the left fielder. With runners at the corners, the Indians looked to Nickeas to deliver his second game winning hit of the season. Nickeas, who was voted by his teammates at Georgia Tech as Mr. Clutch, came through with a sacrifice fly ball to right field to plate Cashman and give the Indians the victory in the game, and the series.

It was the bottom half of the Indians order that did the bulk of the damage for Spokane, with Kevin Mahar, Brock Jacobsen, and Bobby LeNoir combining to give the Indians six hits, score four runs and drive in another four. Jacobsen delivered from the eight-hole with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, scoring two of the Indians seven runs.

The Indians pitching staff will be happy that they will not be seeing Volcanoes centerfielder and leadoff man Clay Timpner again until late August. Timpner, who was held hitless for the first time all season last night, got back on track with a solid 2-for-5 performance, but did not manage to score a run or produce one for the Volcanoes. Indians starter Kevin Altman lasted 4.2 innings, giving up five runs, only three of which were earned, on six hits. With the game knotted and two outs in the 8th inning, Spokane looked to their closer Jesse Ingram (1-0) to fend off any hopes of a Salem-Keizer comeback. Ingram shut down the Volcanoes and picked up his first professional victory, thanks to NickeasÂ’ clutch performance.

The Indians will hit the road for the next five days, taking on the red hot Everett AquaSox (6-2), who had their four-game win streak snapped tonight by the Yakima Bears, who avoided the sweep with a 8-7 win in Yakima. Be sure to tune your radios to 790 the FAN and listen to the Voice of the Indians, Bob Robertson, with special guest Graham Bensinger each and every night. The Indians will return home on Thursday, July 1st to take on the Boise Hawks and Yakima Bears in a six game set.


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