Indians Sal Mendez, Tyler Stubblefield combine to shut out Tri-City

PASCO – Sal Mendez and Tyler Stubblefield gave the Tri-City Dust Devils few chances on Thursday.

When the Dust Devils had chances, they sure didn’t take advantage of them.

Mendez (4-3) and Stubblefield combined on a six-hit shutout as the Spokane Indians capped a three-game Northwest League series at Gesa Stadium with a 2-0 victory.

Spokane won the series 2-1 to improve to 8-6 in the NWL’s second half, two games behind Everett in the North Division. The Indians won the first-half title.

The Indians return home Friday to begin a five-game series against Eugene, which won the South Division’s first-half title.

Spokane broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning when Carlos Garay led off with a double off Adrian De Horta (0-1), who had just relieved starter Eric Lauer. Garay moved to third on Todd McDonald’s single and scored on Leody Taveras’ one-out single.

Kyle Overstreet doubled off Mendez to lead off T-C’s fifth, but the next batter, Luis Asuncion, lined into an unassisted double play by Indians second baseman Blaine Prescott.

The Dust Devils had runners at first and second in the seventh when Stubblefield relieved Mendez. Stubblefield ended the threat with a grounder and forceout at second.

Spokane added an insurance run in the eighth when Charles LeBlanc led off with a triple and scored with one out on De Horta’s wild pitch.

T-C’s Boomer White reached third base in the eighth on two errors, but Stubblefield ended the threat with a strikeout.

Mendez and Stubblefield, who earned his first save, combined for 11 strikeouts.