Indians hope better fate awaits them at home

KEIZER, Ore. – It’s bad enough that the Spokane Indians struggled through a 0-8 road trip.

Worse yet, Tuesday night’s final game of the trip, a 10-9 loss to Salem-Keizer, meant that Spokane finished 0-10 in its season series with the Volcanoes.

Adam Witter walked to lead off the ninth and scored on Tyler Graham’s one-out sacrifice fly to center field off John Slusarz (3-4) to secure the five-game sweep for the Northwest League West Division-leading Volcanoes (39-17).

S-K improved its winning streak to nine.

Spokane (19-37) blew leads of 5-1 and 8-5, but tied the game at 9 in the eighth when Craig Gentry tripled and scored on Thomas Berkery’s groundout. It was Gentry’s second triple of the night and Spokane’s seventh extra-base hit.

The tying run came against Paul Lussier (4-1), who earned the win by pitching a scoreless ninth.

Steven Marquardt’s three-run homer highlighted a four-run third to give Spokane a 5-1 lead.

S-K’s Bradley Boyer hit a two-run homer in the fourth to cut Spokane’s edge to 5-4.

The Indians seized an 8-5 lead in the seventh on Nickolas Cadena’s two-run single with the bases loaded. A throwing error on the play allowed the eighth run to score.

The Volcanoes responded with a four-run seventh, aided by four consecutive walks, the first three issued by Brennan Garr. Witter had a two-run single off Patrick Donovan, who relieved Garr.

Berkery finished 3 for 4 with two runs and one RBI. Marquardt had three RBIs and scored twice.

Spokane is idle tonight and will begin an eight-game homestand Thursday with the first of five games against the Eugene Emeralds.