Beltran Slam Powers Tribe Spokane Eases Into Tie For 2nd 4 Games Back Of Bellingham

It’s crowded in second place in the Northwest League’s North Division.

Three teams, including the Spokane Indians, are now joined in their pursuit of Bellingham.

You can give a share of the credit, at least, to Carlos Beltran.

His grand slam in the eighth inning foiled Southern Oregon strategy and propelled the Indians to a 9-5 win over the Timberjacks on Monday night that drew them even with skidding Everett at 24-30.

Yakima kept pace with Spokane on a 3-1 win at Portland as they joined Everett four games back of Bellingham, a 3-1 loser in 12 innings to Eugene. Everett lost 4-3 to Boise.

Spokane, which had snapped a three-game losing skid with a 16-8 victory here Sunday night, was nursing a 5-4 lead going into the eighth when Beltran connected for his seventh home, but just second from the right side.

Timberjacks manager Tony DeFrancesco brought in lefty Tom Knickerbocker to face Beltran and force the potent Spokane switch hitter to bat from the right side.

The Indians, who used three inning-ending double plays to get out of jams, had to walk a tightrope in the ninth, too.

MacGregor Byers’ second RBI of the night closed the gap to the final score and the Timberjacks had two runners on with the tying run in the on-deck circle when Chad Rodriguez got a game-ending strikeout.

Jeremy Giambi drove in two runs for Spokane.

The Indians, who have now won three straight over the Timberjacks by a combined 42-14, continue a three-game series here tonight.