KEIZER, Ore. – Ari Ronick and a pair of relievers combined to throw a one-hitter and the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes shut down the Spokane Indians 3-1 in Northwest League play on Saturday at Volcanoes Stadium.

Spokane (39-19) saw its lead in the East Division shrink to five games when Boise (34-24) defeated Vancouver 9-7 in 10 innings.

Ronick (4-0) went six innings and allowed the one hit – a solo homer by Jason Ogata with one out in the top of the fifth. He struck out four and walked one. Daniel Runzler followed with two shutout innings and Edwin Quirarte pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 11th save for S-K (32-26).

Neil Ramirez (1-1) started for the Indians and had problems with his control. He left after 22/3 innings trailing just 1-0, but he allowed three hits, walked five and hit a batter. He caught a break in the bottom of the second when Michael Bianucci and Edward Koncel teamed up to nail at the plate Johnny Monell, who was trying to score on a Ryan Lormand double.

Ramirez wasn’t as fortunate in the third. Two walks and a single loaded the bases and his fifth free pass forced home the game’s first run. Cliff Springston relieved and fanned Monell to end the inning, but surrendered a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth.

The middle game of the five-game series is tonight at 6:30.