Cristian Inoa’s single lifts Spokane Indians to seventh walk-off win

Even with the score tied in the bottom of the ninth, the Indians remained calm. After all, they’re used to games coming down to the wire.

With the score tied at 3 in the ninth on Thursday, Spokane’s Curtis Terry doubled off Tri-City relief pitcher Fred Schlichtholz to center.

Terry moved to third base following a throwing error by center fielder Tre Carter and then scored on Cristian Inoa’s single to left, lifting the Indians to a 4-3 win over the Dust Devils at Avista Stadium.

It was Inoa’s second walkoff this season, and the Indians’ seventh.

“Lucky No. 7,” Indians manager Matt Hagen said. “We get in that situation and there’s a really good vibe in the dugout. I just feel like we’re going to find a way to come through.”

Thursday’s win was also the Indians’ 33rd one-run game of 67 this season. They have won 17 and have lost 16.

The win pulled the Indians into a tie with the Dust Devils at 16-13, second in the North division standings. The Indians are one game behind the first-place Vancouver Canadians (17-12), who defeated the Everett AquaSox 3-1 on Thursday night.

The Indians led game for three innings before Tri-City tied the score in the seventh on a two-run single by Luis Almanzar.

The Indians took their first lead in the third inning after they capitalized on a pair of errors to grab a quick 2-0 lead.

Spokane’s Chris Seise reached first base on a fielding error by third baseman Luis Almanzar. Seise moved to third on Tyler Ratliff’s double to left field. Tri-City shortstop Justin Lopez attempted to throw out Ratliff at second, but made a bad throw and the second-straight throwing error allowed Seise to score.

Matt Whatley followed with a bloop to center field that plated Ratliff from second, improving Spokane’s lead to 2-0.

The Indians rallied again in the next inning, beginning with Austin O’Banion’s shot to left field that landed him on second. Cristian Inoa drove in O’Banion with a line drive single to left, giving the Indians a 3-0 lead.

The Dust Devils finally got on the board in the fifth inning on an RBI double by Lopez that bounced off the left-field wall.

Spokane pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts. Indians starter Cole Ragans led with eight strikeouts. The lefty gave up one run, allowed three hits and walked four in 4 2/3 innings.

Ratliff went 3 for 3 for the Indians, including a double, and had a walk. Inoa finished 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

The Indians will host the Dust Devils in the series finale Friday at 6:30 p.m.

Gonzalez makes Indians debut

The Rangers announced on Wednesday that they acquired outfielder Pedro Gonzalez from Colorado, the player that was to be named later in a trade that sent Jonathan Lucroy to the Rockies.

Gonzalez is rated as the Rangers’ No. 20 prospect by MLB.com.

“I was really shocked,” Gonzalez said. Right now, Gonzalez is focusing on “just making an adjustment every day. Now I’m just going to get used to this, get used to my new team, new stadium. I need to adapt.”

Gonzalez, who was one of Colorado’s top prospects, signed with the Rockies when he was 16 years old. The now 19-year-old Dominican has appeared in the Dominican Summer League and in the Pioneer League playing for the Rockies’ rookie affiliate the Grand Junction Rockies.

Gonzalez posted a .321 batting average in 187 at-bats for Grand Junction this season. He had 60 hits, including 16 doubles, six triples and three home runs with 28 RBIs.

In his Indians debut on Thursday, Gonzalez went 0 for 4 as Spokane’s designated hitter.