Tyree Thompson stars on mound in Spokane Indians’ 5-4 victory

EUGENE – Tyree Thompson turned in his strongest start, Matt Whatley slugged his fourth home run and the Spokane Indians averted a seventh-inning disaster in a 5-4 victory over the Eugene Emeralds on Tuesday night in a Northwest League game.

Thompson (4-1) gave up just two hits and one walk over six scoreless innings while striking out four. The 20-year-old right-hander from New Orleans has won three of his last four starts. Joe Kuzia picked up his second save with two perfect innings.

The Indians were able to take advantage of a couple of throwing errors and control problems by Eugene in building their lead.

Whatley put the Indians in front 2-0 in the first inning with a two-out home run after Tyler Ratliff reached on a throwing error.

The Indians loaded the bases with one out against Bailey Clark (1-4) in the fourth on a hit batter and two walks. Cristian Inoa brought Curtis Terry home with a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 lead.

Spokane made it 5-0 in the fifth. Chris Seise led off with an infield hit and came around when Ratliff got aboard on a two-base throwing error. Ratliff scored from second on a wild pitch.

The Indians gave up four unearned runs – on just one hit – with two outs in the seventh.

Reliever Alex Speas started the inning and threw a pair of third-strike wild pitches that loaded the bases. The Indians almost escaped but two runs scored when first baseman Terry dropped a throw from shortstop Seise. A walk again loaded the bases and Speas then hit a batter.

Josh Advocate replaced Speas and gave up the fourth run of the inning with a walk before getting the third out.

The Indians start a four-games series against the Vancouver Giants on Wednesday.