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Spokane Indians

First-rounder Gonzalez struggles for Indians

Rangers first pick in last month’s draft gives up four-run second inning

KEIZER, Ore. – Alex Gonzalez’s struggles continued Friday night during his sixth professional start. The first-round draft pick out of Oral Roberts dropped to 0-4 by allowing six hits and four earned runs over three innings in the Spokane Indians’ 6-2 loss to Salem-Keizer at Volcanoes Stadium. Gonzalez, the 23rd overall selection in last month’s draft, saw his earned-run average jump from 5.91 to 7.24. The 6-foot-2 right-hander has given up 23 hits in 132/3 innings. The Indians (15-13) dropped their second consecutive game after winning nine of 10. Spokane remained four games behind first-place Everett in the Northwest League’s North Division with 10 games left in the first half of the season. Salem-Keizer (18-10), the South Division’s first-place team, leads the five-game series 2-1. The Volcanoes struck for four runs in the second off Gonzalez, capped by Brandon Bednar’s two-run double. S-K added solo homers by Eugene Escalante in the sixth and Shilo McCall in the eighth. S-K starter Chase Johnson threw four no-hit innings. Spokane’s lone hit through seven innings was Evan Van Hoosier’s solo homer in the fifth off Lorenzo Mendoza (3-1). Catcher Joe Jackson, drafted last month in the fifth round, made his Indians debut and went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. Jackson broke his finger on the first day of minicamp.