Moore provides spark for Indians’ win

Dylan Moore got the call in the bottom of the 10th inning Thursday because Spokane Indians manager Tim Hulett needed somebody who could run. Moore, pinch-hitting for Todd McDonald, beat out a two-out infield single that turned into the winning hit as the Indians snapped the Tri-City Dust Devils’ five-game winning streak with a 6-5 victory at Avista Stadium. Moore came to bat with Sherman Lacrus at second base and Carlos Garay at first. “Normally I wouldn’t (pinch-hit in that situation), but Todd McDonald just got healthy,” Hulett said. “Tonight was his first start and in his last at-bat he kind of came up lame with a little bit of a knee issue. So I needed somebody who could run the ball out.” Moore worked the count from Phil Maton (1-1) to 3-1 before lining a pitch down the first-base line. Ty France made a diving stop, but his throw to Maton was wide, allowing Lacrus to steam home. “I knew I was going to beat it because I beat the pitcher over there,” Moore said. “(Maton) was behind me. When (France) threw it wide, I turned around and saw Sherman, who was already wheeling home. If the pitcher catches that and I’m safe, it’s hard to turn around and throw home.” “It was a great play by the first baseman,” Hulett said. “I actually thought it was down the line from my angle, but he was laying on the ground and I was sending Lacrus all the way anyhow. We were going to roll the dice because I think (Moore) was going to beat it out and the pitcher would have had to make a great throw.” The rally gave Luis Parra (6-1), the fifth Indians pitcher, a tie with Hillsboro’s Jared Miller for the league lead in wins. Spokane led 3-1 after LeDarious Clark’s two-out solo homer in the seventh, his league-leading sixth. Clark is 5 for 9 in the series after going 0 for 18 in the just-completed series at Hillsboro. The Dust Devils rallied for a 5-3 lead in the eighth when Peter Van Gansen, down 0-2 in the count, ripped a bases-clearing double to right-center. Spokane tied the game in its eighth. Jamie Potts led off with a long homer to right field. Lacrus followed with a single and scored on Garay’s sacrifice fly to right. The Indians took advantage of a break in the 10th when Carlos Belen, who had just entered at third base, dropped Lacrus’ high popup near home plate. Garay also got a bit of luck on his infield single, a dribbler into no-man’s land between the mound and third base. “There was a little help there, but still we were doing things to put us in position to win games,” Hulett said. The rubber game of the three-game Northwest League series is tonight. The Dust Devils (15-13), who had won seven of their last eight games, lost a chance to pull within one game of first-place Everett (17-11) in the North Division. Spokane (14-14) is three games back with 10 games left in the first half of the season.