Indians close to within one-half game of first

BOISE – The East Division of the Northwest League got a whole lot tighter on Tuesday night.

Cristian Santana drove in Renny Osuna with a two-out single in the top of the 12th inning to send the Spokane Indians to a 3-2 victory over the Boise Hawks.

Meanwhile, the Yakima Bears shut out the division-leading Tri-City Dust Devils 6-0 in Pasco.

The victory by Spokane (31-36) leaves it just one-half game behind Tri-City (32-36). Boise (31-37) is one game back and last-place Yakima (29-38) trails by just two games.

The Indians fell behind early against Boise.

Spokane starter Jacob Brigham was touched for a run in the bottom of the first inning on a two-out solo home run by Josh Donaldson.

Brigham surrendered another run in the fifth – his final inning – but this time it was unearned. Andrew Rundle reached on an error by Spokane right fielder Luke Salas. Rundle scored with two outs on a passed ball.

The Indians bounced back to tie the game in the top of the sixth against Hawks reliever Blake Parker.

Mitchell Moreland opened with a single, took second when Victor Barrios was hit by a pitch with one out and scored on a single by Kevin Gossage. Salas atoned for his error with an RBI single to knot the score.

The Indians owe the victory to stellar effort from the bullpen.

Ryan Falcon, Daniel Sattler and Tommy Hunter (2-2) tossed seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits.