Indians heat up in 7th

YAKIMA – One good inning did the trick for the Spokane Indians on Tuesday night.

Johan Yan’s two-run homer tied the game in the seventh, and Spokane added two runs during the inning for a 4-3 Northwest League win over the Yakima Bears at County Stadium.

The Indians (19-22) opened the night two games behind first-place Boise in the East Division. Yakima, last in the East, fell to 15-27.

Fabio Castillo (3-3) earned the win with six innings of seven-hit ball, striking out six and walking one.

After Yan’s homer scored Kenneth Smith for a 2-all game, Matthew Lawson doubled and scored the go-ahead run on Timothy Smith’s groundout. Ian Gac was then hit by a pitch, stole second base, and scored on Jonathan Greene’s single.

Andrew Laughter earned his fourth save despite allowing a run in the ninth.

The rubber game of the three-game set is tonight. Spokane has Thursday off before opening a five-game home series Friday against West Division-leading Salem-Keizer.