Indians edge Everett
Spokane records fourth consecutive win
EVERETT – Unless they catch fire and win the West Division, the Everett AquaSox won’t see the Spokane Indians again this year.
That no doubt suits the AquaSox just fine.
Jason Ogata lined a tiebreaking, two-run single in the eighth inning Tuesday afternoon and the Indians held off Everett 7-6 by stranding a runner at third base in the ninth.
The five-game Northwest League series at Everett Memorial Stadium went to the Indians 4-1, including the last four decisions. East Division-leading Spokane (32-10) finished 7-3 against Everett (16-26) this season.
Ogata, who finished 3 for 5, came to the plate with one out in the eighth and the score tied at 4. Facing Javier Martinez, who had just replaced Phil Hann (0-3), Ogata singled to right to score Kyle Higgins and David Paisano.
The Indians increased the lead to 7-4 in the ninth. Eric Fry and Matthew West opened the inning with consecutive singles, and Fry scored on a two-out infield error.
Spokane’s Justin Miller replaced Justin Gutsie (3-0) in the ninth and recorded an out before Anthony Phillips singled and Tyson Gillies hit his first home run, a liner to left field.
Welington Dotel’s two-out triple to right brought up Manelik Pimentel, who popped out to shortstop Higgins to end the game.
Miller earned his second save despite allowing the two earned runs. Gutsie, the third Indians pitcher of the game, worked two perfect innings, struck out three and lowered his earned-run average to 1.54.
Fry and Zach Zaneski were also 3 for 5 for Spokane. Fry’s two-run homer to right-center, his fifth of the season, highlighted a three-run fifth that gave Spokane a 4-1 lead.
Everett tied the game in the fifth on Pimentel’s two-out, two-run single.