Dust Devils Decimate Spokane

Christian Molfetta had four hits and Robinson Piña gave the Tri-City Dust Devils (5-7 2H, 34-41) another quality start in an 11-1 victory over the Spokane Indians (4-7 2H, 38-37) Thursday night at Avista Stadium.

The Dust Devils scored in eight of their nine at-bats, with the Indians holding the visitors off the scoreboard only once, in the 6th inning. The outburst of runs provided more than enough support for Piña (6-3), who gave up one run on three hits and struck out six in 6.2 innings of work.

Tri-City opened the scoring in the 1st, when Kyren Paris was awarded home plate following a balk by Spokane starter Evan Shawver (1-6). Paris had doubled to get aboard, and then moved to third base on a wild pitch.

Leading 1-0 in the 2nd, the Dust Devils doubled the lead when Edwin Yon scored on a two-out single by Mike Peabody. They then doubled it again with a two-out hit in the third inning, a single to right-center by Molfetta that scored Osmy Gregorio and Steven Rivas for a 4-0 lead.

Gregorio added another run in the 4th inning when he doubled to the gap in left-center to bring Paris home. A 5-0 Tri-City lead moved to 6-0 in the 5th, when Peabody tied himself up in a double steal rundown to allow Yon to score before he was tagged out to end the inning.

Peabody factored in the Dust Devils’ seventh run, in the 7th inning. With the bases loaded Peabody hit a high-hopping grounder to the right side, which was bobbled for an error. Rivas scored from third on the play and Peabody got a second RBI.

Spokane prevented the shutout in the bottom of the 7th, with a runner scoring from third on a wild pitch. Kyle Molnar came in in relief of Piña, getting a strikeout to end the inning and snuff out the home side’s scoring threat.

Up 7-1, Tri-City then capped their great night with two two-run home runs. In the 8th inning, Mitch Nay hit his first homer as a Dust Devil, a mammoth blast to left scoring Rivas to make it a 9-1 game. Peabody then finished the night in style in the 9th, following Molfetta’s fourth hit by sending his second homer in as many nights over the right field wall for the final 11-1 margin.

Jake Smith then took the baton in the 9th inning from Molnar, pitching a perfect 9th inning to finish out the game.

Overall, eight of the nine in Tri-City’s starting lineup had hits, led by Molfetta’s 4 for 4 night. The catcher from Laguna Beach, California also walked in his first plate appearance, reaching base five times.

With the win Tri-City has taken two straight games from Spokane to lead the series two games to one. Game four of the series takes place at 6:35 p.m. Friday night at Avista Stadium. Lefty Jose Salvador gets the nod for the Dust Devils, with the Indians’ starter to be announced.

Friday night’s game broadcast, at dustdevilsbaseball.com and the MiLB First Pitch app, begins at 6:20 p.m. with the King Beverage Budweiser Pregame Show.

Tickets for the Dust Devils' next home series, July 12-17 against Everett, 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.