Tri-City Takes Early Lead, but Falls to Indians

Straton Podaras socked a 1st inning home run over the left field fence to give the Tri-City Dust Devils (9-18 2H, 38-52) an early lead, but the Spokane Indians (13-13 2H, 47-43) came back to grab a 6-3 win Thursday night at Gesa Stadium.

Podaras’s home run was his seventh of the season, putting the Dust Devils out in front 1-0. After the Indians tied in the 2nd inning, Tri-City answered right back with a run in the bottom of the 2nd. Osmy Gregorio led off the inning with a double, Steven Rivas singled behind him, and Mike Peabody hit a sacrifice fly to give the Dust Devils a 2-1 lead.

Spokane took their first lead in the 4th inning, scoring three runs with two-out hits off reliever Jake Smith (1-4) to take a 4-2 lead. The runs provided support for Indians starter Andrew Quezada (7-0), who gave his team a quality start for the win.

Tri-City got within a run in the 6th inning. D’Shawn Knowles doubled off the right field wall to lead off the inning, and Kyren Paris followed with a hard chopper back to the mound. The ball deflected off the glove of Quezada into right field, allowing Knowles to score to make it a 4-3 game.

It stayed a one-run game to the 9th inning, when Spokane loaded the bases with two out for Zac Veen, the Northwest League’s RBI leader. Veen served a ball into left-center field, scoring two for the final 6-3 margin. The Indians’ Tyler Ahearn closed out the 9th for his third save at High-A.

Offensively for the Dust Devils both Paris and Gregorio had multi-hit games, with Podaras reaching base three times. On the mound, Hayden Seig fired two scoreless innings of relief.

Game four of the series between the teams is slated for a 7:05 p.m. start Friday night at Gesa Stadium with a pair of lefties, Nick Mondak for Tri-City and Austin Kitchen for Spokane, getting the start.

As well, the Columbia River Rooster Tails will make their return, with the first 500 fans receiving a Rooster Tails Mesh Beach Bag thanks to Gesa Credit Union. It’s also a Family Feast Night, with $2 hot dogs and $1 bags of chips, ice cream sandwiches and 12 oz. Coca-Cola products available all night.

The game broadcast begins with the King Beverage Budweiser Pregame Show at 6:50 p.m. at dustdevilsbaseball.com and the MiLB First Pitch app.

Tickets for the weekend's games and all games are on sale now. Ticket packages are also available and start at just $99, and special ticket rates are available for groups of 20 or more. For more information on Dust Devils single game, season, mini-plan (11, 22, 33) and group tickets, visit dustdevilsbaseball.com or call 509-544-8789.