Indians Pull Out Wild One Spokane Steals Home In The 9th, Defeats Emeralds 10-9 In 10th

Sticking Joel Nations in the No. 2 spot was Al Pedrique’s first clever idea.

Even before Nations delivered the game-winning single in the 10th inning, however, Pedrique was seized by another inspiration.

The Spokane manager sent pinch-runner Dwayne Lewis from third with two outs Friday, allowing the Indians to reach extra innings in the first place.

Lewis, catching relief pitcher Adam Butler off-guard, stole home in the ninth with Spokane down to its final out. The surprise swipe tied the game at 9, and Spokane won the weird contest 10-9 when Nations delivered a bases-loaded fly to left in the 10th with the outfield drawn in.

“The play that stands out the most is Lewis’ steal,” said Nations, who entered with a .184 batting average.”If he wasn’t alert and staying in the game, he couldn’t have made that play.”

Both teams entered the Northwest League game with 27-33 records. The Emeralds wasted 15 hits in large part because they committed five errors.

Spokane has won nine of its last 11. Eugene, which entered with its first two- game win streak in a month, went back to its old ways. The Emeralds increased their league-leading errors total to 129.

Eugene error No. 5 on the night was a killer. The Emeralds had just seized a 9-8 lead in the top of the ninth on Robert Sasser’s second solo home run of the night and Fernando Lunar’s RBI double.

Nations, hitting from the No. 2 spot for one of the few times this year, flied out to lead off the bottom of the ninth - the only time in six plate appearances that he failed to reach base. William Roland singled off the glove of first baseman Todd Tocco, then took second when second baseman Pooh Hines tried to make the play at first.

Lewis ran for Roland at second and took third on Mark Quinn’s single. Quinn had earlier extended his hit streak to 13 games with a third-inning single.

Butler retired Randy Paulin on a 3-2 pitch that the catcher fouled to third base. Eugene relaxed long enough after that second out to allow Lewis to shock everyone by breaking for home. The Emeralds had no play and no valid excuse.

Winning pitcher Craig Sanders (3-1) loaded the bases in the 10th, but coaxed an inningending liner to center by Lunar.

Eugene summoned its fifth pitcher, Tony Mazzone (2-1), who retired the first batter before faltering. Mark Melito singled, Brett Schafer was hit by a pitch and Tony Miranda singled as the Indians played station-to-station ball and awaited Nations.

The Seattle product didn’t disappoint, lofting a long fly to left that the Emeralds, playing in, couldn’t corral.

“I’ve been swinging the bat a lot better lately,” said Nations, who went 3 for 4 with two walks, two runs scored and two RBIs. “I felt real comfortable at the No. 2 spot.”

Spokane rallied from a 7-3 deficit with a run in the fifth and four in the sixth. Eugene infielders made three errors during the sixth, when Spokane had just one hit.

Sasser and teammate Glenn Williams had mammoth homers to left off Spokane starter Hal Hodge, who had allowed just one homer in 52-2/3 innings.

Paulin and Roland had two RBIs apiece. Miranda doubled in the first and scored, putting him second place in the league in both categories.

Notes

The five-game series continues at 7:05 tonight with Spokane’s Steve Prihoda (0-4, 3.83) and Eugene’s Jose Garcia (3-2, 3.02) scheduled to start. … Quinn was selected as the NWL batter of the week for Aug. 7-13 after hitting .444 (12 for 27).

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ON DECK Spokane plays host to Eugene at 7:05 tonight