Indians Pull Off Win With Two Outs In Ninth

It wasn’t textbook, but the Spokane Indians aren’t complaining.

The Tribe, down to its last pitch of the game, scored two runs to end a five-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over Portland Tuesday night, their first road win in seven tries this season in the Northwest League.

With two outs in the top of the ninth, James McAuley walked. Eric Nelson then lined a 3-2 pitch to right field. The ball got past the right fielder and McAuley and Nelson both scored standing up. The play was ruled a double and a two-base error.

In other firsts, Jason Gilfillan pitched a perfect ninth for his first save and Jesse Kurtz-Nicholl picked up the win in his first appearance.

Kurtz-Nicholl relieved Ryan Douglass, who went 6-2/3 innings and struck out nine with no walks. He gave up two runs in the fifth inning.

Spokane pitchers didn’t issue a walk while Portland pitchers had eight.

Leadoff hitter Mark Ellis had three hits and James Shanks stole three bases, giving him eight. Shanks scored Spokane’s first run in the fifth, stealing third and scoring on a throwing error by the catcher.

Spokane’s parent club, the Kansas City Royals, signed their second first-round pick from the June draft, pitcher Mike MacDougal. A right-hander, MacDougal was 13-2 with a 2.37 ERA for Wake Forest University. ESPN reported MacDougal will be sent to Spokane.