Indians nip Dust Devils, forge 3-way tie for first

PASCO – The long wait was worth it for the Spokane Indians on Sunday night.

Joey Hooft and K.C. Herron each drove in a run in the top of the 11th inning and Indians closer Jon Wilson worked his late-inning magic once again to propel the Indians to a 2-1 victory and into a three-way tie for first place in the East Division of the Northwest League.

Spokane, Tri-City and Boise sit atop the division with 15-18 records.

John Mayberry Jr. singled to lead off the 11th for Spokane. Jonathan Higashi followed with a single to right field to send Mayberry to third base. Hooft singled past third to score Mayberry. David Peterson was hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out. Julio Santana lined into a double play to first baseman Michael Paulk, who snared the drive and stepped on the bag to force out Peterson. K.C. Herron followed with a two-out single to center to score Higashi and although Hooft was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second, the insurance run proved to be the difference.

Wilson (2-1) who entered the game in the tenth, promptly ran into trouble in the 11th when he gave up singles to Sandy Almonte and Phillip Cuadrado to put runners at the corners. Travis Becktal drove in Almonte with a fielder’s choice groundout to make it 2-1. Paulk followed with a single, moving Becktal to third, but Wilson got Brian Kirby, who is batting .500 against the Indians this season, to hit into a double play to end the threat.

David Smith turned in a stellar effort in his first start for the Indians.

The left-hander allowed just two hits in five shutout innings.