Cristian Inoa boosts Spokane Indians to 7-3 win over Hillsboro Hops

HILLSBORO, Ore. – Cristian Inoa went 4 for 5 with three runs and an RBI, and the Spokane Indians defeated the Hillsboro Hops 7-3 Saturday in a Northwest League game at Ron Tonkin Field.

Ryan Garcia had a successful debut for Spokane. The Rangers’ 2019 second-round pick worked two scoreless innings, striking out three without allowing a hit.

Teodoro Ortega (2-1) followed up with five solid innings, yielding two runs on two hits.

Inoa got the Indians off to a fast start, singling in the first off Marcos Tineo (1-2) and coming around to score on Obie Ricumstrict’s single.

After Kenan Irizarry scored following a double play in the third, Inoa tallied another run in the fifth, scoring on Luis Asuncion’s single.

Hillsboro got on the board in the fifth, when Jorge Barrosa scored on Lyle Lin’s groundout, before the Indians broke the game open in the seventh. Inoa doubled in Irizarry before Blaine Crim smacked a two-run shot to left field.

Two batters later, Jonah McReynolds went deep, making it 7-1.

The Hops (14-9) rallied late, getting a home run from Kristian Robinson in the seventh and an RBI double in the ninth from Tristin English before loading the bases, bringing the tying run to the plate with two outs. Nic Laio induced a groundout from David Garza, ending the threat.

The Indians (13-10) swept the three-game series and return home to play Tri-City Sunday at Avista Stadium.