Redband Rally Strikes Again, Indians Win 8-7

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Indians erased a six-run deficit and used multiple Redband Rallies to comeback and beat the Eugene Emeralds 8-7 Wednesday night on Raining Money Night & $100 Strikeout presented by Banner Bank and 105.7 Now FM. Spokane used the long ball and small ball to score in the fourth, sixth, seventh, and eighth to crawl back from a 7-1 hole and send the 4,740 in attendance at Avista Stadium home happy.

Indians' starter Jake Latz did not have his best stuff. Eugene jumped on Latz in the third with a bases clearing, 3-run double off the bat of Melson Velazquez. In the fourth, Luis Vazquez launched a 2-run homer to extend the lead. Latz finished the night giving up seven runs on five hits in 3.2 innings while walking four.
The comeback started in the bottom of the fourth. Trailing 7-1, Curtis Terry worked a walk to start the inning. Following a passed ball and wild pitch, Starling Joseph drove in Terry with an RBI ground ball to short to make it 7-2.
In the sixth, the Indians had two on and nobody out, but Tyler Depreta-Johnson grounded into a double play. Julio Pablo Martinez fell in an 0-2 hole and it looked as if the rally would be squashed. Martinez would not be denied. He lined the 0-2 pitch over the right field fence for a two-run homer and closed the gap to 7-4. It was his third home run of the season and second at Avista Stadium.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Indians mustered up another Redband Rally to tie the game. Diosbel Arias walked to start the inning. After a fly out from Jonah McReynolds, Curtis Terry fouled off three pitches and worked a nine-pitch walk to bring the tying run to the plate. The Emeralds brought Sean Berry out of the bullpen to face Starling Joseph. On the third pitch of the at-bat, Joseph launched a 3-run homer just inside the left field foul pole to tie the game. For Joseph, it was his second bomb of the season and first since June 19.
The Indians bullpen turned out to be the unsung heroes. Bobby Evald came on in relief of Latz and threw 1.1 scoreless innings. Werner Leal (W, 1-1) was excellent, striking out four in three scoreless innings. Their efforts allowed the Indians to complete the comeback.
After Spokane used the long ball to tie it, they used small ball to win it. Cristian Inoa led off the bottom of the eighth with a base hit up the middle. Two batters later, Jonah McReynolds lined one to left for a hit. With two on and two out, Starling Joseph walked to load the bases. Hasuan Viera, who came in for Troy Dixon after he fouled a pitch off his leg, came up to the plate for the first time. After falling behind 1-2, he battled back and took ball four to walk in Inoa from third and give Spokane the 8-7 lead.
Emmanuel Clase (SV, 3) pitched a perfect ninth inning to pick up his third save of the season.
The Indians and Emeralds continue their five-game series Thursday night for Dollars in Your Dog Night and Pre-Game LEO's Youth Baseball Clinic presented by Mirabeau Park Hotel and KISS 98.1. Calling all Youth Baseball Players! Join the Spokane Indians at Avista Stadium for a pre-game Youth Clinic courtesy of LEO's Photography (3:30-5:30pm). Click Here to Sign Up for LEO's Youth Clinic. Also, buy a hot dog and look inside the wrapper for your chance to win cash and great prizes from the Mirabeau Park Hotel. Over $2,000 will be given away! Stick around after the game for Circle the Bases presented by Dairy Queen! The game starts at 6:30 PM with gates opening at 5:30 PM. Tickets for all Spokane Indians home games are available to purchase at the Avista Stadium Ticket Office or at spokaneindians.com. Reserve your seats today by calling (509) 343-OTTO (6886) or TicketsWest at 1-800-325-SEAT.