Asche’S Bloop Single Spells Defeat For Tribe Spokane Takes Early Lead With Grand Slam, But Can’T Hold On Timberjacks 9 Indians 8

Kirk Asche was a thorn in the Spokane Indians’ side from start to finish on Saturday night.

Asche’s one-out, run-scoring bloop single in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted Southern Oregon to a 9-8 win over Spokane in a Northwest League series matching division leaders.

Asche also had a two-run homer in the first inning and a sacrifice fly in the fourth, helping the Timberjacks rally from a 5-0 deficit.

Southern Oregon (24-18) opened its eighth with Gerald Laird’s triple off the right-field fence against Mike Russo (1-2). Spokane had its infield pulled in when Asche’s single dropped just over the head of shortstop Mark Ellis.

Timberjacks closer Bryan Mazur recorded a 1-2-3 ninth for his fifth save.

The Timberjacks increased their South Division lead to 4-1/2 games over Portland, a loser at Everett. Everett (21-20) closed within 4-1/2 games of Spokane (26-16) in the North.

Spokane, a 5-2 winner in Friday’s series opener, lost for just the eighth time in 31 games.

The middle game of the five-game series is scheduled for 6:05 tonight. Mike MacDougal (0-0, 1.93) is set to make his fifth start for the Indians.

The Indians scored five in their first, on Casey Dunn’s grand slam and Jarrett Shearin’s solo homer. Dunn is No. 2 among the Indians, with six homers.

Asche homered off Spokane starter Brian Sanches during the Timberjacks’ three-run first.

Spokane built the lead to 6-3 on Jake Baker’s RBI double in the second, but Laird’s three-run homer off Jonathan Jackson tied the game at 6 heading into the third.

Spokane completed its scoring in the third, with Charlie Ramirez’s one-out RBI single and Eric Nelson’s two-out RBI double. Nelson leads Spokane with 11 doubles.

The Indians didn’t have a hit after Kevin Lucas’ two-out single in the fourth.

Asche’s sacrifice fly in the fourth started the comeback. Jeremy Schied tied the game at 8 in the sixth with a two-out single.

Southern Oregon had a runner stranded at third in the seventh, but Asche made sure that Laird wasn’t stranded at third in the eighth.

Spokane went 1-2-3 in the seventh and eighth against winner Ryan Tauscher (1-1).