Emeralds edge Indians

EUGENE, Ore. – A pair of walks and a bad hop in the bottom of the ninth inning put an end to the Spokane Indians’ five-game winning streak in Northwest League baseball action on Wednesday night.

Angel Mercado and Bobby Verbick drew one-out walks off Spokane reliever Ryan Schlecht (0-1) and Ryan Hill’s bad-hop single up the middle scored pinch-runner Jeudy Valdez as the Eugene Emeralds (4-5) pulled out a 7-6 victory over the Indians (6-3).

The Indians jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Emeralds starter Geoff Vandel. David Paisano led off with a single and moved to third on a one-out single by Jared Bolden. After Bolden stole second base, Justin Pickett drove in both runners with a two-out single to right field.

But the Emeralds bounced right back against Spokane starter Carlos Pimentel, scoring four times in their half of the first. Verbick’s two-run homer capped the scoring. The first run scored on a passed ball and the second run crossed after a throwing error.

Pimentel settled down after that with three scoreless innings before giving way to Richard Bleier to start the fifth.

The Indians trimmed the lead to 4-3 in the top of the fifth when Timothy Rodriguez led off with a single and later scored on a balk.

Again Eugene answered – this time in the bottom of the sixth – scoring twice to push the lead to 6-3.

Spokane refused to fold.

The Indians scored a run in the seventh when Matthew West led off with a single, took second when Rodriguez reached safely on an error by Eugene third baseman Derek Shunk, and scored on Jason Ogata’s two-out single to right.

Spokane pulled even in the eighth. Bolden was safe on an error by Shunk to open the inning and Dennis Guinn followed with a two-run home run.