Homza scores winning run to aid Tri-City’s playoff chances
Anchorage’s Jonny Homza came up clutch in the bottom of the ninth inning as he doubled and scored the winning run as the Tri-City Dust Devils beat the Boise Hawks 5-4 in Pasco, Washington.
The extra-base hit was big for Homza and bigger for Tri-City’s playoff chances in the Class A Northwest League.
With six games left in the regular season, the Dust Devils sit in second place in the North division – one game back of the Spokane Indians but two games ahead of the Everett AquaSox.
Spokane already secured the North’s first playoff spot for winning the first-half title and if the same team claims both first- and second-half titles, the second-place team for the second half would advance as the North’s second team.
Tri-City will finish the regular season with a three-game against the Vancouver Canadians and then wrap up with a three-game series against Spokane.
Homza, of South High fame, could be a difference maker for Tri-City.
Offensively, the right-handed batter has reached base in 40 of 47 games and ranks fourth on the team with 11 doubles.
Defensively, he has thrown out 15 baserunners (the fourth most in the North division) and his 10.28 range factor ranks second among the 12 catchers in the division.