McElroy homers twice as Eugene beats Spokane again

EUGENE, Ore. – Things are starting to get tight for the Spokane Indians with the Northwest League regular season down to eight games following Thursday’s loss.

Casey McElroy homered twice off Santo Perez (5-4) to power the Eugene Emeralds to a 9-4 win over the Indians in the second game of a five-game series at Civic Stadium.

The Indians, 12-18 in the NWL’s second half and 32-36 overall, lost the series opener on Wednesday and are allowing the Boise Hawks to make a play for the postseason spot that appeared to be in Spokane’s control.

Assuming that East Division first-half champion Tri-City holds on to also win the second half, the team with the next-best overall record will play T-C in the first round of the playoffs. Spokane’s lead over Boise (31-37) is down to one game following the Hawks’ 7-4 road win over Salem-Keizer on Thursday.

McElroy hit a two-run homer to right field in the first inning and a solo homer to right in the third, a four-run inning that gave Eugene a 6-2 lead.

Trever Adams’ two-run double in the fourth gave Spokane some hope, but the Ems recaptured their four-run lead in the fifth as Matthew Colantonio doubled in one run and scored another.

Spokane’s final homestand of the regular season begins Tuesday, with the first of five games against Everett.