Walk-Off Win at the Wire for Columbia River over Spokane

Steven Rivas’s walk-off RBI single completed a two-run 9th inning rally, propelling the Columbia River Rooster Tails (10-19 2H, 40-53) past the Spokane Indians (14-14 2H, 48-45) to a 5-4 win on an exciting Sunday night at Gesa Stadium.

The night included Zach Neto’s first professional home run, a no-doubter in the 6th inning over the left field fence to give the Rooster Tails a 3-2 lead, and Joe Stewart’s first pro hit, a sharp single up the middle in the 2nd inning.

The winning rally started with a one-out walk in the 9th issued to D’Shawn Knowles by Indians closer Tyler Ahearn (1-2). Mike Peabody came up and walked, putting the tying run in scoring position and the winning run aboard.

Straton Podaras then drove a grounder inside the third base bag and down the left field line, a game-tying double that scored Knowles to make it a 4-4 game and put Peabody at third base.

That brought Rivas back to the plate, where he singled off the mound through a drawn-in infield to score Peabody and set off a celebration that spanned to the outfield.

The outfielder from Rancho Cucamonga, California had a great night at the plate, going 2 for 4 with 3 RBI. His first hit, a two-run single with two out in the bottom of the 5th inning, gave the Rooster Tails their first lead at 2-1.

Podaras also had a great night at the dish, going 2 for 2 with two doubles, two walks and an RBI, reaching base four times.

Ivan Armstrong (1-0) pitched a 1-2-3 top of the 9th inning to get the win in his return to the Tri-Cities. Starter Brent Killam also pitched well, giving Columbia River a quality start by giving up only two runs over six innings and striking out six.

Though Spokane took the series four games to two, the Rooster Tails will turn back into the Tri-City Dust Devils winners of two straight and looking to keep the momentum going Tuesday night up north when they begin a series with the Vancouver Canadians at Nat Bailey Stadium.

Lefty Jose Salvador (1-6, 6.68 ERA) gets the start for Tri-City, a 7:05 p.m. first pitch, with righty Nick Frasso (0-0, 0.82 ERA) going to the hill for Vancouver.

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 Dust Devils' next home series, August 9-14 against the Everett AquaSox, 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.