BOISE – The Spokane Indians cranked up the power on Wednesday night and rolled to a 9-7 victory over the Boise Hawks in Northwest League play.

The victory keeps the Indians’ first-half hopes alive … but just barely. The Indians begin a three-game series against the division-leading AquaSox tonight in Everett. Spokane trails Everett by three games with four games left in the first half of the season. The Indians play the Tri-City Dust Devils, who trail the AquaSox by one game, on the final day of the first half in Pasco.

LeDarious Clark led off the game with a home run during the Indians’ three-run first inning. Diego Cedeno belted his first home run of the season – a solo shot – for a 4-0 lead.

Clark righted the ship for the Indians in the top of the seventh after Boise had pulled within 4-3 with another solo blast to give him eight home runs this season.

Dean Long became a member of the Indians’ home-run club in grand-slam style to put the Indians up 9-3 with nobody out in the eighth inning.

It almost wasn’t enough as the Hawks battled back with a run in the eighth and three more in the ninth.

Spokane starter Blake Bass (1-1) was on his game and picked up his first win of the season.

Bass fired five shutout innings, allowing just four hits and a walk with five strikeouts. He left with a 3-0 lead.

But Boise didn’t have as much trouble with Spokane’s bullpen.

Dario Beltre allowed three runs, two earned, without giving up a hit. He walked two, hit a pair, uncorked a wild pitch and allowed three stolen bases without getting an out.

Jeffrey Springs took over and allowed one run on one hit in three innings. Luis Parra – got the first two outs of the ninth – but he was charged with three runs, all unearned, on three hits and a walk. Dan Scheibe got the final out for his first save.