Bellingham Beats Spokane In Wild Finish

Rey Corujo, who had homered in the second inning, led off the 10th with a walk and came around to score on a wild throw Thursday night, giving Bellingham a 2-1 Northwest League baseball victory over Spokane at Bellingham.

Corujo reached third base on a sacrifice bunt and a single by Delvi Cruz. When Spokane pulled the infield in, Alex Morales rolled a slow grounder to second baseman Brett Schafer. Schafer’s throw home went wide of the mark and bounced to the backstop, allowing Corujo to cross the plate with the winning run.

Spokane suffered its fifth straight defeat.

Bellingham’s triumph in the series opener allowed the Giants to increase their Northern Division lead to five games. Everett downed runner-up Yakima 9-4 as Ferris High grad Matt Sachse hit his first professional home run.

Thursday’s game was a pitcher’s duel from start to finish.

Jason Ritter worked the first five innings for Spokane, allowing only two hits, one of them Corujo’s home run.

Bellingham starter Phillip Bailey pitched six innings, departing in favor of winner Brian Knoll (3-0) after Spokane put up its only run.

Tony Miranda opened the Indians’ sixth with a single, moved to second on a groundout and scored on a single by hot-hitting James Vida.

Spokane had its chance to break the 1-1 deadlock in the 10th. Leon Weathersby began the inning with a single. After Weathersby was sacrificed to second, Morales made a pair of running catches to end the inning.

, DataTimes