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Four-run 10th lifts Indians

Spokane catcher Lizahio Baez singles during the third inning against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. The Indians rallied for an 8-7 win in 10 innings. (Holly Pickett / The Spokesman-Review)
Jaime Cárdenas Staff writer
Spokane catcher Lizahio Baez singles during the third inning against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. The Indians rallied for an 8-7 win in 10 innings. (Holly Pickett / The Spokesman-Review)

The game had been over for 10 minutes, but Joe Kemp was still getting high-fives and being congratulated in the Spokane Indians locker room.

Kemp only got one hit in the game, but it was a game-tying triple that led to the reserve outfielder scoring the game-winning run of Thursday’s 8-7 Northwest League win over Salem-Keizer in 10 innings at Avista Stadium.

After Jon Wilson blew his first save opportunity of the season in the ninth inning, the Volcanoes took a 7-4 lead in the top of the 10th with home runs by Jose Yens (two runs) and Mark Minicozzi (solo).

But just as Wilson was unable to close out the game for Spokane, neither was Brian Anderson for Salem-Keizer.

Anderson, the NWL’s saves leader with nine, gave up a single to Steve Murphy and drilled Lizahio Baez with a pitch. After Freddie Thon singled to load the bases, Kemp drove an outside fastball by Anderson in the left field gap that tied the game at 7.

“As soon I left the box I was thinking triple,” said Kemp. “Then I saw the fielder bobble the ball and I went to third.”

Diving head first into third, Kemp beat the throw for the triple.

With one out, K.C. Herren sent a fly ball near the warning track in right field to score Kemp and give the Indians (17-20) a second consecutive win over the Volcanoes (21-16) in front of 4,198.

Wilson, who walked a batter for the first time this season, ended up with his third win of the season after giving up four runs on five hits in two innings pitched.

“It was nice to pick up Jon,” said Kemp, who went 1 for 4 with three RBIs. “He has been so awesome all year but he just didn’t have his best stuff.”

After not giving up a walk in 18 innings pitched, Wilson walked a batter in the ninth after giving up a single to pinch-hitter Christopher Todd. Todd then tied the game on a two-out single by Will Thompson, who finished 4 for 5 on the night to raise his batting average to a league-best .378.

In extra innings, Wilson gave up a two-run home run to Yens that broke a 4-all tie and, after a strikeout, left a fastball up to Minicozzi, who drove the 1-1 pitch over the left-field wall to make it 7-4.

In 19 2/3 innings pitched this year, Wilson has given up three home runs. He has 28 strikeouts and one walk.

Spokane has won seven of its last 10 and remained one game behind the East Division-leading Boise Hawks.

Notes

For a second consecutive night, Lizahio Baez got three hits. After going 3 for 4 on Wednesday, Baez went 3 for 5 with two runs and an RBI. … David Smith (0-0, 0.46 ERA) will make his second start today. Smith, who has given up one run in 19 2/3 innings pitched, will go up against Joey Martinez (1-2, 3.81).