Dust Devils hold Indians to 2 hits

PASCO – The Spokane Indians have dropped five consecutive games and were limited to two hits in the latest setback, Wednesday’s 9-0 shellacking at the hands of Tri-City at Dust Devils Stadium.

Despite their 9-13 record, however, the Indians still lead the Northwest League’s East Division by one game over Yakima and Boise (both 8-14), and two games over the Dust Devils (7-15).

Robinson Fabian (1-3), Brandon Miller, Andrew Groves and Riquy Pena held the Indians to Steve Marquardt’s leadoff double in the seventh inning and Chris Gradoville’s single in the fourth. The Dust Devils’ quartet struck out eight and walked four.

Maruis Loupadiere finished 2 for 5 with three RBIs for the Dust Devils, with a solo homer to center field in the third and a two-run single to left to cap a four-run fifth and complete the scoring.

Kevin Clark walked, moved up on a hit batter and scored on Brian Lapin’s single for T-C’s first run, in the second. Lapin finished 3 for 3 with two runs.

In the fourth, Everth Cabrera doubled home a run and scored on Helder Velazquez’s two-run double.

Michael Mitchell added a two-run single during the four-run fifth.

Darin Holcomb, a Gonzaga University and Shadle Park High product, went 0 for 4, with a walk, for the Dust Devils.

Michael Kirkman (0-3) took the loss, allowing eight hits and seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. His earned-run average ballooned to 9.50.

The teams have split four games this season. After completing this three-game series, Spokane will host Yakima for three games, starting Saturday.