Rua's Tape Measure Home Run Not Enough in 7-1 Loss
Published on June 20, 2012 under Northwest League (NWL1)
Spokane Indians News Release
Spokane, WA -The old saying goes that baseball is a game of inches. Never was that statement more readily apparent than Tuesday night at Avista Stadium, as the Indians saw a close game unravel at the seams in a 7-1 loss to the Canadians in front of 4,315 fans for Kids Night & OTTO's Birthday Bash presented by KiDDS Dental in Liberty Lake, KAYU FOX 28, KISS 98.1 FM, 590 KQNT, & Northwest Mama Magazine.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth, shortstop Nick Urbanus missed a home run by less than a foot, as his line drive ricocheted off the wall just to the left of The Black Book Depot. Designated hitter Preston Beck followed with a cue shot off the end of the bat that hugged the third base line before rolling foul at the last moment. Instead of runners at second and third and one out, Spokane's rally died as Beck popped out and rightfielder Royce Bolinger flied out to end the inning.
First baseman Ryan Rua knotted the game at one the next inning with a towering home run over the Gus Johnson Ford sign in leftfield, leaving the crowd in awe with a shot that seemed destined to land in the neighboring zip code.
Unfortunately for the Indians, the inches between a glove and a ball, not the feet in Rua's home run would decide the game. After a double from Balbino Fuenmayor and walk to Kellen Sweeney, Indians reliever Taylor Dennis (0-1) induced what looked like an inning-ending groundball from Vancouver's Daniel Arcila. The inning didn't end though, as the ball slipped th r ough the legs of second baseman Cam Schiller and into rightfield, where a throwing error from Bolinger compounded the damage, allowing two runs to score and opening the floodgates to another painful loss.
Starter Eric Brooks pitched two scoreless innings in his professional debut, and Shawn Blackwell and Cody Kendall providing five more frames of one-run ball.
The Indians head on the road for a five-game series against the Everett Aquasox (Seattle Mariners) before returning to Avista Stadium on Monday, June 25th to face the Boise Hawks (Chicago Cubs) for Gone Fishing Giveaway & Smokey Bear Night presented by MacKenzie River Pizza Company, U.S. Forest Service, and Rock 94 1/2. Smokey Bear will be on-hand to throw out the first pitch and all fans can enter at Avista Stadium or any MacKenzie River Pizza location to win a fishing trip including lodging, travel, and expenses. Listen to all home and away games live on SportsRadio 1510 KGA with "Voice of the Indians" Mike Boyle or streaming online at 1510kga.com. Tickets for all Spokane Indians home games are available for purchase at the Indians Ticket Office or at spokaneindians.com. Reserve your seats today by calling (509) 343-OTTO (6886) or TicketsWest at 1-800-325-SEAT.
Northwest League Stories from June 20, 2012
- Eugene Bests Hawks - Boise Hawks
- Tonight's Game vs. Tri-City Sold Out - Vancouver Canadians
- Rua's Tape Measure Home Run Not Enough in 7-1 Loss - Spokane Indians
- Bears Best Leads to Big Beat Down - Yakima Bears
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