Holcomb’s homer boosts Dust Devils

PASCO – Former Shadle Park High School and Gonzaga University player Darin Holcomb slugged a three-run home run to lead the Tri-City Dust Devils over the Spokane Indians 6-1 Friday night.

The blast gave the Dust Devils a 5-1 lead in the seventh inning and sent the Indians down to defeat in the first game of the three-game series.

The loss also tied the two teams at 4-7 along with Yakima atop the Northwest League’s East Division.

Tri-City scored first with two runs in the second inning with the help of an error plus three hits.

Spokane scored its lone run in the seventh when Steve Marquardt, who had walked to lead off, scored on Andres James’ two-out single.

The game’s final run came in the eighth for the Devils on a double and pair of singles.

Sheng-An Kuo (2-0), from Taiwan, pitched 6 2/3 innings for the win, giving up four hits, four walks and fanning seven.

Spokane’s Fabio Castillo (1-2) had his best start of the season. Castillo, who gave up four and five earned runs, respectively, in his first two starts, gave up only one earned run in five innings, surrendering six hits, walking none and striking out six.

The Dust Devils outhit the Indians 15-4.