Cedeno Seals Tribe’S Fate, 7-2

Jose Cedeno wasn’t finished picking on the Spokane Indians after his solo home run in the second inning Wednesday.

Cedeno also delivered the killing blow, a two-run double in the sixth, as the Bend Rockies defeated Spokane 7-2.

Cedeno’s double came with two out and Bend leading 4-2. Reliever Jeff Jones had just replaced starter Heath Murray (4-5), who nearly worked out of a no-out, two-on situation.

Bend has defeated Spokane in three of four games this series. Spokane owned a 4-1 series lead over the Rockies heading into the series.

Both teams are in the cellar of the Northwest League divisions. Bend is 21-39 in the Southern Division, Spokane 26-34 in the Northern Division.

The Indians complete their season series against Bend tonight with Shane Dennis (1-6, 3.97 earned-run average) starting against Mike Saipe (1-6, 4.40). Spokane won’t play another Southern team after tonight.

Murray, coming off a strong outing against Boise, was victimized by homers and errors.

After Cedeno hit a homer, his second of the year, Ronnie Hall hit his fourth of the season - a two-run shot - in the third.

Bend’s Brian Rose, making his first start of the year, allowed just one hit in four innings, but it was a big one. In the fourth, Rose hit Pete Bifone with a pitch and Darren Grass followed with a two-run homer.

Grass has four homers in the series and five this year against Bend. He has six for the year.

Bill Eden (2-3) relieved Rose in the fifth and kept Spokane offbalance.

The fifth proved pivotal, as Spokane missed a chance to tie the game at 3. Eric Martinez singled with two out and moved to second on leftfielder Derrick Gibson’s error. Gibson atoned, however, as he threw out Martinez at home on Mark Merila’s single.

Bend went ahead 4-2 in its fifth on two errors, one by Murray attempting a pickoff at second.

Murray’s night was completed in the sixth. Jones couldn’t help his teammate, allowing Cedeno’s double and Kyle Houser’s RBI single that scored Cedeno.

Spokane reliever Bubba Dixon worked the eighth, getting two strikeouts for a total of 71 this season.