The Tri-City Dust Devils are inching ever closer to their second Northwest League East Division title.
And if they are going to win their second crown in three seasons, they will likely do it at home.
The Dust Devils, who return home tonight to take on second-place Spokane, are coming off a 5-3 road trip after losing the series finale to Vancouver on Tuesday afternoon.
Tri-City (34-24) has a seven-game lead over Spokane (27-31) and Boise (27-31) with 18 games left in the regular season.
The schedule sets up nicely for the Dust Devils, who play 12 of their next 15 games at Gesa Stadium.
Tri-City is 5-1 against the Indians this year, and swept Spokane the only other series in Pasco this season.
After this three game series, the Dust Devils play six straight games against last-place Yakima (22-36).
Tri-City, which pounded out 18 runs in wins over Vancouver on Sunday and Monday, was held to just one run on four hits Tuesday in a 2-1 loss.
All three of the game's runs came in the second inning.
Tri-City took a 1-0 lead on Jose Gonzalez' groundout.
Vancouver came back with two runs in the bottom of the inning, thanks in part to two Tri-City errors.
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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.
Dust Devils fall in title bid
Dust Devils fall in title bid
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- This was not the way the Tri-City Dust Devils wanted to go out.
Tri-City players could only watch as the Vancouver Canadians celebrated their first-ever Northwest League title Sunday afternoon at Nat Bailey Stadium after a gut-punch of a 9-2 loss in Game 3 of the NWL championship series.
The Dust Devils locker room was dead silent after the loss. They built some momentum after a 5-3 win yesterday to keep their title hopes alive.
Defense huge in Dust Devils' 2-1 win over Indians
Defense huge in Dust Devils' 2-1 win over Indians
The Northwest League All-Star team is due out this week, and the playoff-bound Tri-City Dust Devils should earn a few spots on the team. One thing the NWL doesn’t have is a defensive award. If it did, the Dust Devils certainly would grab another healthy handful of honors.
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.
Dust Devils drop Game 1 of NWL finals
Dust Devils drop Game 1 of NWL finals
PASCO -- The Tri-City Dust Devils hopped on a bus for Vancouver, British Columbia, late Friday night after their 6-3 Game 1 loss to the Vancouver Canadians in the Northwest League Championship Series at Gesa Stadium.
Along with their bats, gloves and spikes, the Dust Devils hoped to carry a win across the border. Instead, they might need to pack a miracle or two, as they need to win both games at Nat Bailey Stadium to earn their first NWL championship.
"We've got to go up there and win two," said Tri-City manager Fred Ocasio. "They came in and beat us at home, but we're capable of doing the same thing."
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