Indians pick up second win

EUGENE, Ore. – Chad Tracy hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot in the top of the third and the Spokane Indians held on down the stretch for a 6-4 victory over the Eugene Emeralds in Northwest League action.

Craig Gentry led off the game with a single and scored the first run of the game on a throwing error.

Eugene (5-3) answered in the bottom of the first when Chad Huffman hit a sacrifice fly into center that scored Michael Epping.

Gentry led off the third inning with a line-drive double into right field. Gentry advanced to third on a throwing error and Grant Gerrard hit a run-scoring single. Tracy homered to score Gerrard and put Spokane up 4-1.

Eugene scored again in the third when Matt Antonelli hit an RBI single into right, scoring Epping.

Spokane (2-6) took advantage of five-straight walks and scored two insurance runs in the seventh.

Wally Backman Jr. was walked and reached third after two wild pitches by Rolando Valdez. Valdez walked Gerrard and Tracy to load the bases.

After the Emeralds made a pitching change to Riki Paewai, Chris Kemp was walked to score Backman Jr. Thomas Berkery was also walked and Gerrard scored the second and final run of the inning.

Eugene tried to rally in the bottom of the eighth, scoring two runs and stranding two runners in scoring position.

Casey Smith led off the inning with a single for the Emeralds. Huffman singled and both runners advanced on a wild pitch by Brennan Garr. Willy Crafort then singled into right and scored both runners.

Eugene stranded two runners on base in the bottom of the ninth to end the game.

Tracy finished 2 for 3 for Spokane with two RBIs and one run scored. Gerrard was 1 for 4 with two runs scored and one RBI.

Wandy Morla picked up the win for the Indians, scattering six hits in five innings. Austin Weilep picked up his first save of the year.

Epping led the Emeralds at the plate, going 2 for 3 and scoring twice. Crafort was 1 for 5 with two RBIs and Casey Smith was 3 for 3 with one run scored.

With the win, the Indians moved into sole possession of third place in the East Division, just one game behind Boise (3-6) and Tri-City (3-6), which are tied for first.

The first place teams in the East Division still have a worse record than last-place Vancouver in the West Division.