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Spokane Indians

Indians shut down S-K

Grullon, Reyes strong in return

Starting pitcher Juan Grullon pitched four shutout innings for the Indians on Tuesday. (Christopher Anderson)

The last time Juan Grullon and Jimmy Reyes pitched for the Spokane Indians was July 17.

Both returned in fine form Tuesday night as the Indians’ season-long dominance at Avista Stadium continued with a second consecutive shutout of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.

Grullon allowed two singles and struck out five in four innings, and Reyes (2-0) struck out the side in the fifth during Spokane’s 5-0 Northwest League victory, its 18th in 24 home games.

Grullon started the July 17 game against Vancouver and left in the second inning with an ugly blister. Reyes relieved in that game and reinjured his elbow.

“It’s good to be back and it’s good to see Juan back,” said Reyes, whose last win came July 1.

“I wasn’t able to throw any sliders or curveballs,” he added. “I can only throw fastballs and change-ups now. I want to take it slowly and not reinjure it with one month left in the season. I want to be ready for the playoffs.”

Tim Stanford and Colby Killian finished off the game for Spokane. Stanford lowered his earned-run average to 0.78 (in 23 innings) with three innings of two-hit ball. Killian worked the ninth, the Volcanoes’ 20th consecutive inning without a run.

The Volcanoes, who have won three of the last five NWL titles (Spokane won the other two), dropped their sixth consecutive game.

Second baseman Santiago Chirino had his biggest offensive game with the Indians, with an RBI triple in the fifth inning and a double to lead off Spokane’s four-run seventh. Chirino entered the game with four doubles in 58 at-bats.

“It was my best game with the Indians and I’m feeling good,” said Chirino, who arrived in mid-July when Danny Lima broke his finger.

S-K center fielder Chris Lofton, who made sparkling plays in the sixth and seventh to rob Spokane hitters, couldn’t chase down Chirino’s hit to dead-center in the fifth. The triple scored designated hitter Brett Nicholas, who led off with an infield single.

Chirino nearly kissed the right-field line with his opposite-field, seventh-inning double, which scattered the Indians’ bullpen.

Catcher Kellin Deglan, a Texas Rangers first-round draft choice in June, followed with a bunt to pitcher Jake Dunning. Dunning attempted to get Chirino at third base, but third baseman Adam Duvall couldn’t handle his wide throw, and the Indians had their second run.

Deglan later scored on a sacrifice fly by Jake Skole.

The final two runs came on the third triple of the season by Jared Hoying, who jumped on the first pitch from reliever Shawn Sanford. Hoying leads the club in several categories, including his 33 RBIs.

Notes

Indians right-hander Andrew Doyle was promoted to Bakersfield of the High-A California League. Doyle made two starts for Spokane and had a 2.08 ERA in 8 2/3 innings. … The Indians became the first NWL team to surpass 100,000 in attendance. … Spokane first-base coach Josue Perez was ejected in the fifth for arguing a strike call with Clark Murphy at the plate.