Spokane Indians walk-off Vancouver on Miguel Aparicio single

The Spokane Indians certainly know how to create a dramatic ending.

Thursday’s 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canadians was nothing short of a nail-biter as the Indians fought back in the bottom of the ninth to steal another win this season by a single run.

“Apparently, we’re really into one-run games,” Indians manager Matt Hagen said.

With two outs in the ninth and score tied at 3, the Canadians brought in Jake Fishman in hopes that the left-hander would force the game into extra innings at Avista Stadium on Thursday.

The pitching change didn’t shake up Spokane’s Miguel Aparicio, who drove Fishman’s first – and only – pitch of the night to center field. The hit brought in Austin O’Banion from second base, lifting the Indians in the second of a four-game Northwest League series.

It was the Indians’ fifth walk-off this season.

“We try to make it exciting,” Hagen joked.

The excitement started early in the game when the the Indians (12-10) built a quick 3-0 lead in the first two innings, but Vancouver (13-9) fought back in the middle innings to tie the score at 3.

Down 3-2, Vancouver’s Brock Lundquist led off the sixth with a grounder to first baseman Curtis Terry, who had the ball go between his legs and into right field.

Lundquist eventually equalized the score on Bryan Lizardo’s RBI single up the middle.

The Indians got out of the gates quickly. Aparicio led off the first with a walk and later scored on Clay Middleton’s bloop that landed just inside the right-field line.

Aparicio crossed the plate again the following inning after reaching base on another walk. Tyler Ratliff shot the ball to deep left field, driving in Aparicio and Kole Enright. The two-run double improved Spokane’s lead to 3-0.

The Indians didn’t get another hit until the final inning.

“We came out pretty hot,” Hagen said. “But then they went to the bullpen and brought in (Juan) Nunez and we didn’t touch him.”

With Nunez (2-7) on the hill, the Indians only managed to get on base four times via three walks and a hit-by-pitch.

Vancouver finally got on the board in the third inning. Deiferson Barreto doubled to center field and scored on Indians shortstop Chris Seise’s throwing error to first base on a grounder by Reggie Pruitt.

The Canadians capitalized on more sloppy defense in the fifth inning. Pruitt reached on fielder’s choice, went to second on a single, moved to third base on a passed ball by Middleton, then scored on another passed ball.

Indians lefty reliever Lucas Jacobsen (3-0) earned the win, pitching a scoreless ninth inning. Starter Hever Bueno allowed three runs – one earned – on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts over five innings. Joe Barlow tossed three shutout innings of relief with four Ks.

The teams continue the series on Friday at 6:30 p.m.

Smith out with

shoulder injury

Indians right fielder Chad Smith flew to Arizona on Thursday morning for an MRI after experiencing soreness in his right shoulder.

Smith “tweaked” his shoulder in Hillsboro on July 20 when he slid back to first base to avoid a pickoff. Smith rested and returned to Spokane’s lineup two weeks later. Smith said he hurt the shoulder again in Eugene on Saturday.

“In Eugene, the second game, just took a swing and felt that same pain I felt back in Hillsboro,” Smith said.

It is unclear if Smith will return to Spokane before the end of the regular season.