Turner turns it on, Indians roll

SPOKANE — Xavier Turner hit a grand slam and collected 5 RBIs to lead the Spokane Indians over the Vancouver Canadians 9-3 on Monday night in Northwest League baseball before 3,581 at Avista Sadium.

The Indians struck for three runs in the first, as Chad Smith’s 2-run single was followed by Turner’s RBI double.

Smith singled to lead off the fifth, moved to second on Turner’s single, and later scored on a double play off the bat of Stephen Lohr for a 4-2 Spokane lead.

Indians starter Jacob Shortslef went five innings, allowing two runs on five hits, two walks and seven stikeouts.

Then Turner broke the game open with his slam in the sixth for an 8-3 adavantage.

Charles LeBlanc added and RBI single in the eighth for Spokane (16-15) which hosts Vancouver (15-16) again tonight at 6:30.