Dust Devils top Indians

Spokane led the Northwest League East by 1 1/2 games going into Monday night’s contest against the Tri-City Dust Devils at Avista Stadium.

But despite out-hitting the Dust Devils and holding the score at 5-5 until the final inning, Spokane succumbed when Tri-City’s Brian Lapin hit a single in the top of the ninth that brought Kevin Clark home and gave the Dust Devils a 6-5 win.

Lapin, a .226 hitter, produced three RBIs and a home run for the Dust Devils from the bottom of the batting order.

Tri-City (24-30 and Boise (24-30) now trail Spokane (24-29) by a half-game. Boise beat visiting Yakima 12-3 Monday night.

In a close game where the little things mattered, the Indians played error-free ball – but made a couple of mental mistakes that made the difference between a win and a loss.

Playing his usual brand of gutsy, offensive-minded baseball, centerfielder Eric Fry got a little too bold in the bottom of the sixth when he crept too far off second base and found himself trapped between second and third.

Pitcher Brian Billings tagged Fry out, giving the Indians two outs, and eliminating a scoring chance.

“I was trying to read the pitcher and he did something different and he got me,” Fry said. “I play aggressive, but sometimes I get a little too aggressive.”

Designated hitter Jonathan Greene jolted Spokane’s offense into action in the third when he hit a two-run homer to left field for his 10th homer of the season.

Greene struck again in the seventh, producing a run-scoring single – his 41st RBI of the season – that brought Matt Lawson home to tie things up at 5.

Lawson went 3 for 5 at the plate and made a couple of pivotal offensive plays for the Indians, but was left unsatisfied with the Indians’ performance.

“The game’s not over till the final out,” Lawson said. “Every time you get a hit, that’s great. But that’s your job. The loss overshadows that.”