Indians fall in 11 innings

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Spokane didn’t go quietly in the Nat Bailey Stadium night, but in the end the Vancouver Canadians put an end to the Indians’ five-game winning streak.

J.D. Pruitt’s grand slam staked the Canadians to a big early lead, but it took a one-out, bases-loaded single by Jeremy Barfield in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift Vancouver to a 7-6 victory in Northwest League baseball action Wednesday night.

The loss, coupled with Tri-City’s victory over Everett, left the East Division-leading Indians (16-6) with a two-game lead over the second-place Dust Devils.

Pruitt’s slam in the bottom of the second inning off Indians starter Martin Perez put the Canadians (9-13) up 5-1.

But Spokane battled back and knotted the score at 6 with a three-run eighth inning. Dennis Guinn singled to start the rally against Canadians reliever Kenneth Smalley. Kyle Higgins followed with a walk. David Paisano doubled to score Guinn and send Higgins to third. Jose Guzman replaced Smalley. Jason Ogata’s grounder to short scored Higgins and Joey Butler’s groundout plated Paisano.

The deciding rally in the first game of the five-game series came against Spokane reliever Corey Young – the Indians’ sixth pitcher of the night.

Thomas Day led off with a single. Dusty Napoleon reached first on a fielder’s choice that forced Day at second. Dante Love and Jason Christian reached safely to load the bases for Barfield, who ripped a 3-2 pitch to right to end the game.