Dust Devils rough up Hall, pull into first-place tie with Indians

PASCO – The Spokane Indians’ ninth-inning comeback bid fell short in the opening game of what may be a playoff preview.

The Northwest League baseball season is not even 20 games old, but Game 1 between the Spokane Indians and the Tri-City Dust Devils had the look and feel of a playoff game. Both teams are now tied atop the Eastern Division standings after the Indians 7-4 loss on Saturday in Pasco.

Jesse Hall took the loss, lasting just two innings and allowing five runs on five hits before a crowd of 2,348 at Dust Devil Stadium. Hall (0-2) threw 50 pitches, including 34 strikes – while his ERA raised to 11.42. The other two pitchers – Tanner McElroy and Dave Smith – allowed six hits and two runs.

Hall’s first pitch of the game was a triple by Sandy Almonte, who scored on a grounder to first by Travis Becktel. On the grounder, Freddie Thon fielded the ball and attempted to throw out Almonte at the plate, but the throw was too high for Baez to tag out a sliding Almonte. Becktel scored on a double by the next batter, Phillip Cuadrado, to give Tri-City a 2-1 lead.

In the next inning, Hall walked Michael Milliron to begin the inning. Milliron then advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Pedro Strop. Strop scored on the next pitch, a single to right field by Steven Boggs.

Boggs stole second, then, after Almonte struck out, moved to third on an infield single by Becktel and scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Phillip Cuadrado.

McElroy came in in relief to start the third inning and got tagged by the Dust Devils for one run in the third and another in the fourth. Smith gave up two hits, but no runs, in three innings of relief.

Spokane’s Steve Murphy extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a double in the first that moved German Duran to third. Duran, who got on base by drawing a walk, scored the first run of the game on single to left-center by Lizahio Baez.

It was Baez’s seventh RBI in three games. He has recorded a hit and RBI in every game since joining the Indians on Thursday.

Murphy is now batting .378 (14 of 37) in the month of July with one home run, nine doubles and 11 RBIs.

Today’s probable starting pitchers are Doug Mathis (1-1, 2.84 ERA , 19 strikeouts) for the Indians against Buzz Vargas (2-1, 2.25).