Big ninth inning carries Spokane Indians over Salem-Keizer

KEIZER, Oregon – Curtis Terry went 3 for 5 and homered in the fourth inning for his team-leading 11th this season, and the Spokane Indians used a seven-run ninth to beat the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 9-4 in the third of a five-game Northwest League series at Volcanoes Stadium on Monday.

The win kept the Indians (19-14) tied for first in the North Division second-half standings with the Tri-City Dust Devils, who beat Hillsboro 4-3 on Monday.

Seven Indians reached base in the final inning before the Volcanoes were finally able to get an out.

Spokane scored twice for a 4-1 lead, then Chris Seise drove in two more runs on double to right. He later scored on Austin O’Banion’s sacrifice fly to center field, giving the Indians an 8-1 lead.

The Indians added one more when Tyler Ratliff, who reached base on a double, came home on a passed ball.

The Volcanoes attempted to rally in the bottom of the frame on a two-run homer by Malique Ziegler, but reliever Luis Lopez forced a lineout to Terry at first to end the game.

Neither team got going until the third inning when Spokane took a 1-0 lead.

Ratliff started the rally with a one-out line drive single to left field, and O’Banion followed with a ground-ball single to the left side. Spokane’s Matt Whatley drove in Ratliff from second base on a single grounded up the middle, though O’Banion was thrown out trying to advance to third.

The Volcanoes were quick to answer, equalizing the score at 1 in the bottom of the frame.

Ziegler reached base on a fielder’s choice and then stole second. Johnson sent Ziegler home on a ground-ball single to center field.

Logan Baldwin then reached first on a fielding error by second baseman Enright, his first of two errors Monday, but Indians starter Tai Tiedemann forced Ryan Kirby into a groundout to first base to end the inning.

The Indians took an early 2-1 in the fourth behind Terry’s lead-off home run to left field.

Tai Tiedemann (4-4) allowed one run on six hits and three walks with three strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.

The teams pick up the series on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m.

Around the Northwest League

Tri-City 4, Hillsboro 3: Jalen Washington touched home with the decisive run in the seventh inning, as the visiting Tri-City Dust Devils (19-14) defeated the Hillsboro Hops (17-16) 4-3 on Monday.

Tri-City remains tied with Spokane atop the North Division. Hillsboro is two games ahead of Boise in the South

Washington scored after he reached base with a single, advanced to second on a hit batsman and then went to third on an out.

Blake Rogers (2-0) got the win with two innings of scoreless, one-hit relief while Kevin Ginkel (0-1) took the loss.

Dalton Varsho homered and singled, driving in two runs for the Hops.

Boise 8, Vancouver 6: Luis Castro hit a three-run double in the eighth inning, leading the visiting Boise Hawks (15-18) to an 8-6 win over the Vancouver Canadians (18-15) on Monday.

The double by Castro scored LJ Hatch, Sean Bouchard, and Danny Edgeworth to give the Hawks a 7-4 lead. The Hawks tacked on another run in the ninth when Cole Anderson scored on a ground out.

Moises Ceja (2-1) got the win in relief while Joe DiBenedetto (0-1) took the loss.

Everett 5, Eugene 4: Eugene Helder hit a walk-off single with one out in the ninth inning, as the Everett AquaSox (17-16) defeated the visiting Eugene Emeralds (15-18) 5-4 on Monday.

Austin Grebeck scored the game-winning run after he reached base on a walk and advanced to second on a single by Chris Torres.

Reliever Scott Kuzminsky (1-0) picked up the win after he struck out one while allowing one hit over one scoreless inning.

Gustavo Polanco homered and singled for the Emeralds. Zach Davis doubled and singled twice, also stealing a base.