From staff reports

The Spokane Indians needed one good swing to take an early lead Friday night.

Make that one Goodman swing.

Spokane’s Hunter Goodman hit a two-run homer in the second inning to break a scoreless tie, and the Indians held off the Eugene Emeralds for an 8-4 win in a Northwest League game at Avista Stadium.

The fourth-place Indians (16-17 second half) knocked Eugene (21-13) from the top spot in the league. Vancouver (21-12) holds a half-game lead over the Emeralds and five games over the Indians.

The Indians’ Julio Carreras was hit by a pitch to lead off the second inning and reached second on a wild pitch before Goodman homered to center field on a 3-2 count.

The Emeralds scored a run in the sixth, but Spokane responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to build a 5-1 margin.

With one out, Eddy Diaz and Zac Veen hit consecutive singles and advanced to third and second, respectively, on a fielding error. Carreras hit a two-run single and later scored when Robby Martin Jr. produced a bases-loaded walk for a four-run lead.

The game marked Diaz’ return from an injured leg. It was his first game since July 23. 

Eugene scored twice in the seventh, but Bladimir Restituyo scored on a fielder’s choice grounder by Veen in the inning’s bottom half for a 6-3 cushion.

Luis Matos hit a solo shot in the eighth to pull the Emeralds within 6-4, but Mateo Gil clubbed a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning to account for the final margin.

Indians starter Andrew Quezada improved his record to 8-0. The 25-year-old leads the NWL in wins and is tied for sixth in ERA (3.86) among qualified pitchers. He allowed seven hits and a walk with four strikeouts over six innings.