Four Homers Boost Indians Tribe’s Brown, Brambilla Remain Hot; Montas, Pagan Get In Act, Too

Dermal Brown continued to harass Salem-Keizer pitching and Mike Brambilla drove in three runs Friday, as the Spokane Indians used four home runs to defeat the Volcanoes 13-7 in a Northwest League North Division game.

Brown hit a two-run home run in the first inning and Brambilla homered over the scoreboard in the seventh.

The Indians’ two other homers were back-to-back shots by Rico Montas and Carlos Pagan, highlighting a six-run second inning that erased a 3-2 Salem-Keizer lead.

The Volcanoes closed to 8-6 with a three-run fifth inning, then a double, a triple and Brambilla’s home run gave Spokane an 11-6 lead in the seventh.

Brambilla’s third home run of the season was his second in the five-game series. For the series, Brambilla drove in eight runs and was 6 of 11 as Spokane took three of five games from Salem-Keizer.

Nine of Brambilla’s 12 RBIs this season have come in the last four games.

Brown, who homered for the second consecutive game, is 14 for 37 (.378) with 15 runs, three doubles, five homers and 14 RBIs in 10 games against the Volcanoes.

All but one of Spokane’s starters had at least one hit and seven drove in at least one run. Starting pitcher Jordy Alexander allowed six runs in six innings, improving to 5-3 overall and 2-0 against the Volcanoes.

Spokane opens a five-game series against Portland today. Justin Pederson (4-1, 1.94) will start for the Indians.

Spokane could not gain ground on first-place Boise, as the Hawks hammered Eugene 27-2.