Clark, Indians grab NWL Game 1 win

Andrew Clark hit a three-RBI single to help Spokane defeat Yakima, 5-1, in Game 1 of the Northwest League's best-of-3 semifinal series Monday.

Clark, the Rangers' 13th-round pick this year, came up with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning with the Indians clinging to a 2-1 lead. He lined a single to right field that eluded a diving Henry Zapata, allowing all three baserunners to score. Clark was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.

Spokane jumped out to an early lead. Ryan Strausborger led off the game with a double and Jared Hoying followed with a single to put runners on the corners. First-round pick Michael Olt drove in a run with a groundout to third.

The Indians took the lead for good in the fourth when Clark led off with a walk, advanced to third on Joshua Richmond's single, and scored on Santiago Chrinos' RBI groundout.

Strausborger finished 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. Hoying reached base four times and Richmond had two hits for the Indians, who finished with six hits, but drew seven walks.

Starter Ben Henry allowed a run on three hits with two strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings. Reliever Jorge Marban (1-0) picked up the win after surrendering two hits and fanning four over 2 1/3 frames.

Bears starter Miguel Pena (0-1) took the loss, allowing two runs -- one earned -- on three hits with three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

In other Northwest League action:

Everett AquaSox 9, Vancouver Canadians 5 (10 innings)
Everett scored four times in the 10th inning via small ball to take a 1-0 series lead on Vancouver. Robert Anston was 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs for the AquaSox. Box score