SPOKANE VALLEY – Largely held down throughout a day game starting Tuesday morning in parts north and east of their home, the Tri-City Dust Devils (16-12) came a few feet away from another late rally but fell 4-2 to the Spokane Indians (10-18) at Avista Stadium.
SS Capri Ortiz came to the plate with two out in the top of the 9th and RF Randy De Jesus on base after he drew a walk to extend the game. The Tri-City shortstop, who drove in ten runs last week in the Dust Devils’ series win over Everett, lined a 3-2 pitch the opposite way toward Avista Stadium’s short porch in right field. High enough and long enough to leave the yard for a game-tying two-run homer, the ball sliced right of the pole 296 feet away from the plate for a foul ball. Ortiz then was called out on strikes on the following pitch to end the game.
The Tri-City attack could only get three hits on the board, two of them by 3B Jake Munroe. His first hit of the day got into the right field porch for his fourth home run of the season, both the only run and hit given up by Spokane starter Jackson Cox (1-1) over seven otherwise difficult frames for the Dust Devils offense. The visitors did draw three walks, including two in the 6th inning, to apply pressure but the Indians hurler worked out of it.
Pitchers in Tri-City jerseys, meanwhile, had to scramble after starter Tyler Bremner (0-1) had to leave the game in the 2nd inning due to illness and fatigue stemming from it. Alex Martinez came in with a man on and struggled in relief, giving up three runs in the 2nd but rallying to put up a scoreless frame in the 3rd. Max Gieg then delivered his best outing of the year by giving up only a solo home run and striking out six in three innings of work.
Trailing 4-1 to start the 8th, but with Cox out of the game, Munroe again got things started with a double down the left field line. LF Gage Harrelson walked with one out and the two executed a double steal to get both into scoring position. A wild pitch followed later in the frame, with Munroe ultimately scoring both of his team’s runs for the day. The loss ended the Dust Devils’ four-game winning streak.
BACK TO WORK
Tri-City and Spokane meet for game two of the week’s six-game set at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday night at Avista Stadium. The Dust Devils, in an adjustment to the rotation, will start right-hander Zachary Redner (3-0, 2.84 ERA). The Indians will hand the ball to righty Jordy Vargas (1-1, 4.03 ERA).
Free broadcast coverage on the MiLB app and dustdevilsbaseball.com will begin with the Dust Devils Pregame Show at 6:15 p.m. Fans can also watch the games for free (Spokane broadcast) on Bally Sports Live, and via subscription on MLB.tv and the MiLB app.
Tri-City then returns home for a series with the league-leading Eugene Emeralds beginning Tuesday, May 12 on a Coca-Cola Tuesday. For tickets for the Eugene series, as well as all 2026 Dust Devils home games, visit the official ticket site, dustdevilsbaseball.com.