EUGENE -- Monday night's 14-1 rout of Eugene was the best of all worlds for the Tri-City Dust Devils.
While the Tri-City batters were busy piling up 15 hits -- four from Kent Matthes and three each from Kevin Clark and Joseph Sanders -- four pitchers limited the Emeralds to just five hits and combined for 13 strikeouts.
It all added up to a good start to a five-game set at Eugene (18-25), which suffered its fourth straight loss. The two teams play again at 7:05 p.m. today.
Tri-City (26-17) got started with a pair of unearned runs in the first after Tim Wheeler opened the game with a hard shot that deflected off shortstop Chris Tremblay. Jeremiah Sammy followed with a double, and Ben Paulsen and Bo Bowman each drove in a run with a ground out.
Eugene got a run back in the bottom of the frame, but didn't get another hit until the sixth. Dust Devils starter Josh Hungerman gave up just two hits in his four innings, working his way around five walks with six strikeouts. Relievers Craig Bennigson, Ricky Testa and Eric Federico gave up just one hit each in their innings.
Tri-City added three more runs in the third and took a 9-1 lead on Sanders' two-run single in the sixth. Sanders, who drove in six runs, capped his night with a two-run home run in the ninth.
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Tri-City drops road game 7-5
Tri-City drops road game 7-5
VANCOUVER -- The Tri-City Dust Devils scored four runs in the top of the third to take a 4-1 lead but ended up giving it right back the next inning in a Northwest League loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Nat Bailey Stadium.
Tim Smalling went 3-for-4 with two runs and hit his NWL-leading seventh triple of the year to tie the score at one. Tyler Massey, Jared Simon and Leonardo Reyes each added RBI singles to cap the scoring in the third.
The Dust Devils (17-13
second half) remained in first place in the East Division, but Yakima (15-15) pulled to within two games with a 6-0 win at Everett. Tri-City already clinched a NWL playoff berth by winning the first-half title.
Dust Devils head to NWL championship series
Dust Devils head to NWL championship series
PASCO -- The Tri-City Dust Devils have been able to hold champagne celebrations in the clubhouse twice this season.
First, the Dust Devils did it in late July after clinching the first-half title in the Northwest League East Division. They did it again Tuesday after a 9-1 win over Boise to win the NWL Divisional Playoff series at Gesa Stadium.
They're counting on getting good and happy one final time, hopefully to commemorate Tri-City's first Northwest League championship since 1984. The Tri-City Triplets were the last team from Tri-Cities to win the NWL title. The Tri-City Posse, an independent team, won the Western Baseball League championship in 1999.
Dust Devils skid at 3 after loss in Vancouver
Dust Devils skid at 3 after loss in Vancouver
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The Tri-City Dust Devils' pitching staff came up with another gem Friday at Nat Bailey Stadium in British Columbia, holding the Vancouver Canadians to just two runs on five hits.
Problem was, the Dust Devils (17-13) couldn't find any offense to support it. Tri-City finished the game with 10 runners left on base, leaving runners in scoring position in five of the nine innings.
Kevin Patterson hit an RBI triple to center field in the first inning, and Stephen McQuail followed with an RBI double to left to make it 2-0 Vancouver.
Dust Devils find offense in 6-4 win
Dust Devils find offense in 6-4 win
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Just when it seemed like the Tri-City Dust Devils were headed for their third consecutive miserable day at the plate, they broke out the lumber.
Jayson Langfels hit a solo homer in the seventh and a two-run triple in the eighth, powering Tri-City to a 6-4 win over the host Vancouver Canadians on Sunday.
It was part of a five-run outburst in the last three innings that dug the Dust Devils out of a 3-1 hole.
On paper, Dust Devils have NWL title wrapped up
On paper, Dust Devils have NWL title wrapped up
PASCO -- If you look at the Northwest League website, you'll see that the Tri-City Dust Devils have vastly superior numbers to the Vancouver Canadians.
The Dust Devils swept the first half and second half East Division titles, and then went on to sweep Boise in the best-of-3 NWL divisional playoffs.
The Canadians didn't win either half in the West and backed into the playoffs after losing five of their last six regular season games.
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