Spokane Indians crushed and shut out by Hillsboro

HILLSBORO, Ore. – No. 9 hitter Ryan Grotjohn went 2 for 4 with four RBIs and the Hillsboro Hops crushed the Spokane Indians 15-0 on Friday in the second of a five-game Northwest League series at Ron Tonkin Field.

Hillsboro starter Connor Grey (5-2) allowed seven hits and no walks with six strikeouts in seven scoreless innings.

The Hops (22-14) scored once in the first, but put up five runs in the third and six more in the fifth. Grotjohn had a two-run single to cap the five-run, third-inning rally. Daulton Varsho added a two-run single in the frame as well.

In the fifth, Grotjohn doubled to right to plate Tra’mayne Holmes and Connor Owings. Owings had doubled the previous at-bat and drove in a pair. Later in the frame, Eudy Ramos delivered his fourth home run of the season for a two-run shot.

Ramos finished 3 for 5 with two runs and three RBIs, while Owings went 2 for 3 with two runs driven in.

Spokane starter Luis Lopez (0-3) was roughed up for six runs on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts over just 2 2/3 innings, raising his season ERA to 11.34 over seven games and four starts.

Reliever Tai Tiedemann allowed six runs on four hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning during the fifth-inning rally.

Spokane leadoff hitter Miguel Aparicio went 2 for 4 and designated hitter Melvin Novoa added a pair of hits in three trips.

Spokane outfielder Austin O’Banion pitched the eighth inning and gave up three runs.

The Indians (14-22) went 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10.