Indians win, get set for big series
Thompson pitches Spokane past Volcanoes
KEIZER, Ore. – The Spokane Indians are going to have to continue to help themselves in order to tighten up the race in the Northwest League’s East Division.
The Indians concluded a five-game series with a 4-2 victory over the West Division-leading Salem-Keizer Volcanoes Friday night. Spokane took four of five games from the Volcanoes, but picked up just one game on the Tri-City Dust Devils, who lead the second-place Indians by seven.
The Indians (21-26) will get the opportunity to make up a lot of ground starting tonight when they travel to Pasco for a three-game set against the Dust Devils (28-29). The teams meet for another three-game series in Pasco Aug. 20-22.
The Indians will be hoping for another pitching performance like the one they received from Matt Thompson (2-3) against Salem-Keizer (31-16) Friday. He went seven innings to get the win, giving up only two runs, one unearned, three hits and no walks. He struck out five.
Trailing 2-0, the Indians broke through with three runs in the fourth inning. Daniel Lima opened with a single to right field and Vincent DiFazio walked before Jason Ogata doubled to right field for two RBIs. Miguel Velazquez followed with a walk. After Tommy Mendonca struck out, Aja Barto reached on an error to load the bases. Clark Murphy’s sacrifice fly to center field brought in Ogata, who is hitting better than .400 in 22 games this season.
Spokane added what proved to be the winning run in the next inning when Kyle Rhoad opened with a double to left field and came around on ground outs by Lima and DiFazio.
The Indians endured a scare in the bottom of the ninth. Luke Anders reached second on a double error by shortstop Denny Duron. But Duron atoned, nailing pinch runner Caleb Curry at third base on a fielder’s choice. However, a wild pitch by Sam Brown and a steal put Christopher Dominguez on third base, who then scored on Brooks Lindsley’s single. Kyle O’Campo came in to relieve Brown and retired the next two batters to pick up his first save.
Salem-Keizer had taken the first lead of the game with two runs, one unearned, in the third inning against right-hander Thompson. Ryan Cavan singled to start the inning and after a pop out scored on Evan Crawford’s single when left fielder Barto committed an error and allowed Crawford to reach second. Crawford then stole third and came home on a fly to left by Ryan Lollis.
Mendonca had three hits.