The Spokane Indians edged the Everett AquaSox 8‑7 in a tightly contested High‑A Northwest League finale on Tuesday night, preserving a slim lead that kept their playoff hopes alive.
A 10th‑Inning Turnaround
The decisive moment arrived in the top of the tenth, when Tanner Thach lined a double that set the stage for Roynier Hernandez’s RBI hit, pushing the Indians ahead and forcing Everett into a scramble.
Both teams exchanged blows earlier in the game, with Alan Espinal’s three‑run homer in the fourth extending Spokane’s advantage to 6‑2, only for Brandon Eike’s two‑run blast in the fifth to cut the margin.
Everett’s offense was sparked by Anthony Donofrio’s ninth‑season home run in the second inning and Ethan Hedges’ 14th‑season homer in the third, while Aiden Taurek’s RBI single in the sixth pulled the AquaSox within one.
A bases‑loaded wild pitch in the eighth tied the game, but the Indians answered with a textbook 6‑4‑3 double play to extinguish the rally and preserve the lead.
The win improved Spokane’s record to 23‑24, leaving them four games behind first place with 19 contests remaining in the second half of the season.
Key contributors — Hernandez, Thach and Kelvin Hidalgo — each collected two hits, underscoring the depth of the lineup as the club prepares for a six‑game series against the Hillsboro Hops beginning Tuesday at Avista Stadium.