Indians slug way to victory

SALEM, Ore. – It was Home Run Derby at Volcanoes Stadium Friday night.

John Mayberry and Freddie Thon each hit one of Spokane’s five home runs and drove in three runs apiece to lead the Indians to a 12-10 Northwest League slugfest victory over the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.

Lizahio Baez, Steve Murphy, and Terry Blunt also homered for Spokane, while Salem-Keizer countered with four home runs of their own.

But the relief pitching of Tanner McElroy also was key.

McElroy relieved Warren Rosebrock with one out in the seventh inning, but not before Rosebrock had allowed the Volcanoes to tie the score at 10 with back-to-back home runs by Jose Yens and David Maroul. After Chris Stanton and Barry Gunther followed with back-to-back singles, McElroy came in and slammed the door shut.

He struck out Joseph Dyche and Michael Mooney swinging to end the seventh inning, struck out the side in the eighth, and two more batters in the ninth to claim his second victory of the season.

Blunt led off the top of the eighth with his first homer to break the tie and a Thon RBI groundout provided insurance.

Spokane maintained its two-game lead in the East Division.