Tri-City Dust Devils capitalize on ninth-inning error to sweep Indians

PASCO – The Tri-City Dust Devils walked off the Spokane Indians as a costly error by Indians first baseman Curtis Terry allowed Tri-City catcher Jalen Washington to score and complete a three-game sweep in Northwest League baseball.

Left-handed starting pitcher and No. 8 ranked Texas Rangers prospect Cole Ragans threw five solid innings for the Indians (3-5) and allowed one hit, one walk, and struck out nine Tri-City batters.

Outfielder Chad Smith singled to score Charles Leblanc from second base to give the Indians a 1-0 lead in the second inning.

Miguel Aparicio singled and was followed by an RBI single and RBI double to raise the Spokane lead to 3-0 in the third inning.

Spokane catcher Yohel Pozo drove in Austin O’Banion in the top of the seventh to provide right-handed middle reliever Reiver Sanmartin with a 4-0 lead.

In his second inning of work, Sanmartin allowed a double to Tri-City designated hitter Luis Asuncion, who was followed by two more doubles to reduce the lead to 4-2 in the seventh inning.

Indians right-handed middle reliever Joseph Kuzia allowed a two-run double by Tri-City outfielder Tre Carter to tie the game at 4 in the eighth inning.

The Indians bullpen allowed only one walk in eight innings, but the second walk – to Washington leading off the ninth inning– proved damaging.

After Washington’s walk, T-C shortstop Justin Lopez laced a groundball to Indians first baseman Terry, who misplayed the ball and Washington came around to score, improving the Dust Devils’ record to 7-1.

The Indians will begin a three-game series with the Vancouver Canadians Friday night at 7:05 pm at Nat Bailey Stadium in Vancouver, B.C.