Sellout Crowd on Hand as Indians Rally Falls Short in 5-3 Loss
Published on June 18, 2016 under Northwest League (NWL1)
Spokane Indians News Release
Spokane Chiefs Celebrate a Run
(Spokane Indians)
SPOKANE, WA - The Indians rallied ahead in the eighth inning but couldn't hang on in the ninth as they fell to the Vancouver Canadians 5-3 in front of 7,035 fans at Avista Stadium for Opening Night Fireworks & AAA Magnet Schedule Giveaway presented by Les Schwab Tires, KREM 2-TV, 93.7 The Mountain, SportsRadio 1510 KGA NW Sports Talk, and Journal of Business.
Spokane starter Michael Matuella struggled with command in his pro debut - but did consistently light up the radar gun with his mid-90's fastball - as he walked two batters and hit another in three scoreless innings. The Canadians got on the board for a pair of runs against Kevin Lenik in the fourth but the Indians answered with a run of their own in the bottom of that frame on a Seth Spivey RBI groundout.
The score would remain the same until the eighth inning when right fielder Chad Smith drilled an opposite-field two-run double that scored Alex Kowalczyk and Darius Day to briefly give the Indians a 3-2 advantage. Unfortunately for the packed house, southpaw Sal Mendez (0-1) couldn't hold the lead in the ninth as the Canadians touched him up for three runs to provide the final margin of victory.
Relievers Tyler Ferguson and Johan Juan both punched out three in a combined four scoreless innings while Smith, Kowalczyk, Xavier Turner, Todd McDonald, and Blaine Prescott all picked up hits for Spokane in the loss.
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 Spokane Chiefs Celebrate a Run |
Northwest League Stories from June 18, 2016
- Indians win over Canadians - Vancouver Canadians
- Tri-City Dust Devils Post-Game Fireworks Show Sold Out - Tri-City Dust Devils
- Hops Open 2016 with a Win - Hillsboro Hops
- Tri-City Dust Devils Win Season Opener - Tri-City Dust Devils
- Sellout Crowd on Hand as Indians Rally Falls Short in 5-3 Loss - Spokane Indians
- Hops Put out Opening Day Fire - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Canadians Rally In 9th To Stun Indians In Season Opener - Vancouver Canadians
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