Indians open season with loss

SPOKANE - Five Vancouver pitchers combined on a three-hitter and Balbino Fuenmayor went 2 for 5 with four RBIs as the Canadians defeated the Spokane Indians 8-1 in the Northwest League season opener for both teams Friday night in front of 6,478 at Avista Stadium.

Fuenmayor hit a three-run home run over the left field fence with two out in the third inning as the Canadians scored four runs. Vancouver opened the scoring in the previous inning, scoring on a throwing error by third baseman Smerling Lantigua.

Fuenmayor struck again in the fifth inning with an RBI single to score Dalton Pompey for a 6-0 lead.

Dan Klein homered leading off the sixth for Vancouver.

Spokane starting pitcher John Kukuruda, who appeared in five games last season for Spokane before an injury ended his season, took the loss, allowing two hits over four innings and striking out four.

Barrett Serranto walked with one out in the eighth and came around to score on a single by Nick Urbanus for Spokane.

The teams continue their five-game series tonight at 6:30 at Avista Stadium.