Dylan Moore propels Indians past Tri-City

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.