Down on the Farm: I-Cubs’ offense stagnant in Saturday loss

Short-Season: Spokane Indians 3 – Boise Hawks 2 (F)

Two runs by the Spokane offense in the bottom of the eighth were enough to sink the Boise Hawks’ hopes of a win on Saturday night as the Cubs’ short-season affiliate fell at home by a 3-2 final.

Leading heading into the bottom of the eighth, Boise (4-5) handed the ball to right-hander David Garner (0-1, 1.80 ERA), who immediately ran into trouble against the Indians (7-1), who are off to a red-hot start to the season.

Seth Spivey led off the frame with a double to right field and two batters later, he came around to tie the game on a single to center by Luke Tendler. The next batter, Alberto Triunfel singled to center fielder Rashad Crawford, putting runners at first and second with one out. However, an errant throw by Crawford allowed Tendler to advance to third on the play, setting up what proved to be the game-winner, a sacrifice fly off the bat of Juremi Profar that put the Indians up for good.

Tendler opened the scoring for Spokane in the bottom of the first with an RBI single, as part of a three-hit night that also included a pair of RBIs. Boise answered back in the top of the third when Varonex Cuevas hit his first homer of the years – a solo shot – to tie the game at one apiece. An RBI groundout by Crawford in the top of the fifth accounted for the second, and final, Hawks run of the night.

Cuevas joined teammate Alex Tomasovich with two-hit efforts in the loss. Boise starter Trevor Clifton allowed just one earned run in 4 1/3 innings of work, walking two and striking out seven.