Indians lose in 12, fall 3 games back

KEIZER, Ore. – Brian Horwitz’s sacrifice fly to center field with one out in the 12th inning gave the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes a 3-2 Northwest League victory over the Spokane Indians Thursday night.

With the loss, the Indians lost more ground in the East Division standings. First-place Boise (37-29) swept a doubleheader with Everett, winning 12-2 and 4-1. Tri-City (36-30) beat Eugene 8-4 and trails Boise by one game. Spokane (34-32) fell to 3 games behind Boise.

Spokane opened the scoring with Michael Mask’s two-out, two-run homer in the top of the fourth inning. The ball bounced off the top of the left-field fence.

Salem-Keizer answered with single runs in the fourth and seventh to send the game into extra innings.

In the bottom of the fourth, after two quick outs, Horwitz singled to right and advanced to second on a passed ball. Todd Jennings followed with a single up the middle, plating Horwitz.

In the seventh, Ryan Strain’s RBI single to right scored Simon Klink with the tying run.

Strain singled to lead off the 12th and went to second on Clay Timpner’s bunt single. Jeff Palumbo sacrificed the runners to third and second. John Bowker was intentionally walked to load the bases, setting up Horwitz’s final play.

Anthony Moreno (5-0) got the win, combining with Douglas Mackay and Geno Espineli for eight shutout innings in relief of starter Darren Sack.

Kevin Altman (1-4), the fifth Spokane pitcher, took the loss.

The teams wrap up their 5-game series tonight.