Reliever dusts off Indians

There are several reasons why the Tri-City Dust Devils have the best record in the Northwest League.

The Dust Devils lead the league in team batting (.275), and are No. 2 in team earned-run average (4.06). Their second baseman, Erik Dean, leads the league in hitting, and their third baseman, Matt Macri, is tied with Spokane’s Travis Metcalf for the NWL lead in runs batted in.

But the biggest factor may be T-C closer Jim Miller, who has seven more saves than his closest pursuer in the league.

“When Miller has come on, he’s done the job every time this year,” said T-C first baseman Joseph Koshansky, whose three RBIs helped the Dust Devils defeat Spokane 5-4 Thursday night in the opener of a three-game series at Avista Stadium.

Miller worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and retired the Indians 1-2-3 in the ninth to record his 13th save in 14 save opportunities.

“I try to take every day as a new day and just worry about doing my job,” said the 6-foot right-hander after the Dust Devils (27-19) polished off the win to move three games ahead of the Indians (24-22) in the East Division.

The Dust Devils are 3-1 against Spokane this season, winning each game by one run. Miller also saved one of those wins, July 19 in Pasco.

“I’ve been fortunate that I’m on a good team that makes my job easier,” Miller said.

The Miller Mystique faced a big challenge in the eighth inning. The Indians, trailing 5-2 heading into the inning, had reached J.P. Gagne for one run on Bobby LeNoir’s double off the wall in left-center field on a 3-2 pitch. Tug Hulett then drew his 37th walk of the season to load the bases, knocking out Gagne with just one out.

Michael Mask, the first batter to face Miller, lined a 2-2 pitch to right to score Billy Susdorf and again load the bases with the score 5-4.

But Miller struck out Metcalf on four pitches and retired Mike Nickeas on a 5-4 fielder’s choice.

“(Mask) got the single off me and, honestly, I got a little (mad) inside and just kind of kicked it into another gear,” Miller said.

Tri-City led 5-0 after its fourth inning, but Indians relievers J.D. Cockroft and Clayton Jerome held the Dust Devils to two hits for the final five innings.

Every Dust Devils run came after two outs. Koshansky hit his eighth homer of the season in the second, a two-run blast off starter Kevin Altman (1-2) that sailed high over the scoreboard in right-center.

“That one was hit pretty long,” said the 6-4, 225-pound left-hander. “I got lucky and got a good pitch to hit.”

Dean added a solo shot to right off Altman in the third. Against Cockroft in the fourth, Koshansky laced an RBI double to right and scored on a single by Mitsuru Sakamoto.

Spokane began its rally with Ben Harrison’s leadoff homer in the fourth. The shot just cleared the 331-foot sign in right, near The Grotto picnic area.

Mask walked to lead off the fifth and scored four batters later, on Jim Fasano’s groundout to second base.

Fasano and Susdorf singled to open Spokane’s two-run eighth, a comeback that fell just shy because of Miller.

“When Jim Miller has come on, he’s closed out all the tough games,” Koshansky said.

Spokane left 12 runners on base, including a bases-loaded situation in the second when LeNoir struck out swinging.

Tonight’s scheduled starters are right-handers Eric Hurley (0-0, 5.63) of Spokane and Steven Register (3-4, 3.13) of Tri-City. Register ranks No. 6 in league ERA.

Tonight is Family Feast Night, featuring $1 hot dogs, ice cream sandwiches and Pepsi products.