Vancouver rallies in eighth to defeat Spokane

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Ryan McBroom stroked a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning to carry the Vancouver Canadians to a 5-4 victory over the Spokane Indians in Northwest League play Saturday.

Vancouver maintained a one-game lead over Tri-City in the race for the second-half crown of the North Division with two games left. Tri-City has to win both of its games and hope Spokane beats the Canadians twice to win the second-half crown. The second-half winner will play first-half winner Spokane in the first round of the playoffs.

The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a two-out single by Eduard Pinto.

Vancouver bounced back with a three-run third against Indians starter Nick Gardewine. It was the only rough inning for Gardewine, who allowed six hits in six innings with two strikeouts.

Spokane cut the lead to 3-2 on Diego Cedeno’s run-scoring single in the sixth and rallied to take a 4-3 lead in the seventh on Josh Morgan’s RBI bunt single and Jose Cardona’s RBI groundout.

Adam Parks took the mound for the Indians in the bottom of the eighth and quickly got two outs. But singles from Tim Locastro and Franklin Barreto set up McBroom.