Indians climb into first place

YAKIMA – Make way for the first-place Spokane Indians.

Eight days after stumbling away from their home ballpark, Avista Stadium, with a 0-5 record, the Indians are returning home in much better shape (5-8) and – strangely enough – tied for first place in the Northwest League’s East Division with the Tri-City Dust Devils, tonight’s opponent.

Wally Backman and Chad Tracy hit solo home runs, and Thomas Berkery drove in three runs Saturday night as the Indians stormed past the Yakima Bears 8-3 to win the series at Yakima County Stadium 2-1.

Wandy Morla (2-1) allowed five hits and two earned runs for six innings to register the win.

Lewis-Clark State/Northport High product Austin Weilep earned his second save with three innings of one-hit ball, including three strikeouts. The run against him was unearned.

Cyle Hankerd went 2 for 4 for the Bears (3-10).

Spokane took a 3-1 lead in the third on Berkery’s RBI single and Christopher Davis’ sacrifice fly.

The Indians scored single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh to build a 6-2 lead. Backman hit a one-out homer to right, his second, in the fifth; Berkery opened the sixth with an infield single and later scored on an error; and Berkery had a two-out RBI double in the seventh.

Berkery, who boosted his batting average to .364, finished 3 for 4 with one run and his third stolen base.

Tracy opened the ninth with his second homer of the season, a drive to left. Tracy and Backman’s homers both came on first pitches.

The Bears aided Spokane’s cause with six errors, three by third baseman Jose Dilone.

Spokane will be home for the next six nights, including three games with the Dust Devils.

Right-hander Michael Wagner, from Washington State University, is scheduled to start tonight’s game for the Indians.