Playing in the biggest ballpark in the Northwest League has not helped the Boise Hawks chances to win a first half East Division title, as the squad has continued their struggle away from home.  The Hawks have now dropped eight of their last nine games away from Boise and take a season long four-game losing streak into tonight’s finale.

The team has fallen from 14-10 on June 10, with the current tailspin dropping the club to 15-17 – their lowest mark since Game 3 of the season in Eugene, when the Hawks sat at 1-3.

Futility on the road at the plate has been the biggest issue, as the team has stumbled to a .226 batting average in the 18 road games, with only Rafael Lopez (.348) among the regulars hitting above the .300 mark away from the Treasure Valley.  Boise is hitting just .244 with runners in scoring position on the road and is a woeful 3-for-22 with the bases loaded.

Tonight’s game, with Su-Min Jung and Cam Greathouse piggy-backing, is a must-win situation, with the team sitting two games back of both Spokane and Tri-City in the East.  A loss all by eliminates the Hawks from a first half pennant chase, but a win pulls Boise within a game of Spokane (and possibly Tri-City, depending on their game tonight) with Yakima heading to town on Thursday night.

A NEW MASCOT: The Indians have debuted a second mascot – joining what was the world’s only Spokaneasaurus, Otto.  It is a female version, named Doris – that splits time with Otto during the on-field promotions…joining Everett with multiple mascots (not counting Recycleman, who makes appearances here and there in Spokane).

TOUGH DAY IN THE BIGS: Yesterday was a tough day for former Hawks at the major league level, as both Jerry Blevins (Oakland) and Mitch Atkins (Baltimore) were sent to the minors.  Blevins was DFA’d, meaning he must clear waivers before having the option to rejoin AAA Sacramento, while Atkins was optioned to AAA Norfolk.  Robinson Chirinos had a memorable debut with Tampa Bay, smacking a double in his first MLB at bat.