PASCO – Keythel Key threw seven great innings for the Tri-City Dust Devils (8-4 2H, 38-40) in front of a sellout Independence Day Eve crowd of 3,667 Thursday night at Gesa Stadium, but Spokane Indians (9-3 2H, 38-40) lefty Konner Eaton and reliever Francis Rivera combined to complete a 1-0 shutout of the Dust Devils and take the short series two games to one.
Key (2-4) gave up only one hit in his stellar performance, a deep fly to the opposite field in the top of the 6th inning by LF Braylen Wimmer that got over the fence in right field for a solo home run. Wimmer’s third longball of the series ended up the only run of the game, handing Key the toughest of tough luck losses. Eaton (5-4), meanwhile, strung up nine hits over his seven innings of work, getting help from three double plays and a couple of outs by Tri-City on the basepaths. He and Key both pitched sharply, though, striking out eight and keeping hitters off-balance throughout their outings. Both teams had only one representative of their bullpen take the mound, with Dust Devils righty Bridger Holmes throwing two scoreless frames with three strikeouts. Rivera, whom the Dust Devils had hit a bit in previous appearances, also struck out three and did not allow a baserunner in getting the final six outs for his first save of 2025.
DUST DEVILS NOTES…