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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Alfaro’s homer catapults Indians past Dust Devils

PASCO – Jorge Alfaro’s three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning capped a four-run outburst and the Spokane Indians defeated the East Division-leading Tri-City Dust Devils 8-1 in a Northwest League baseball game Monday night. Brett Nicholas got the eighth inning started for the Indians with a one-out double. Guillermo Pimentel followed with a single to drive in Nicholas and put the Indians up 3-1. Ruben Sierra singled to center and set the table for Alfaro’s blast over the wall in left field for a 6-1 lead. Spokane tacked on a couple more insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Nick Vickerson drew a leadoff walk. Edwin Garcia singled and both runners moved up a base when the ball was bobbled in the outfield. Trever Adams delivered a sacrifice fly to right to score Vickerson and Garcia scored the game’s final run when Pimentel struck out on a wild pitch. Starter Nicholas McBride (2-2) was stellar on the mound for Spokane. The right-hander allowed just five hits and one run in 51/3. Spokane’s second straight road win over Tri-City (38-26 overall, 16-11 second half), combined with Boise’s loss to Yakima, bettered its prospects for taking the East Division’s second playoff spot. If the Dust Devils win the second half, the next-best overall record will meet Tri-City in the first round of the playoffs. Spokane (32-33, 12-15) leads Boise (29-36, 12-15) by three games in the overall standings with 11 games remaining. The three-game series concludes tonight.