Indians’ Skid Hits Five Games

The Spokane Indians are still 0-for-the-road. And 0-for-3 at Civic Stadium.

Portland came up with two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning Monday night to cap a comeback 5-4 Northwest League baseball victory and deal the Indians (3-8) a sixth straight road defeat.

The Indians had lost their first three games of the season in Boise, but followed that with three straight wins at home to get their record to .500. But since then they have lost five in a row overall.

Justin Lincoln gave Portland the early lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning - his third of the season - but the Indians weren’t down long.

Spokane came back with four runs in the top of the fourth with Liam Healey and Julian Gonzalez providing the key hits.

Healey delivered a two-run double and scored on Gonzalez’ triple. Gonzalez missed an inside-the-park homer when he slipped going into third. Charlie Ramirez’s sacrifice fly scored Gonzalez moments later.

Things were looking pretty good for the Indians, but they wouldn’t score again while the Rockies worked their way back with single runs in the fourth and sixth innings to put themselves in position to win it in the ninth.

Jay Gehrke (0-1), who came on in relief in the ninth for Spokane to try and nail down a save, walked Richardo Mahoney to open the inning. Agustin Sanchez followed and sacrificed Mahoney to second.

Dan Phillips, who was batting .515 but had the night off, came in to pinch hit and laced a double to score Mahoney with the tying run.

While pitching to Miguel Vilorio, Gehrke proceeded to throw a wild pitch that allowed Phillips to move from second to third. He dashed home with the winning run when Vilorio lined a shot off Gehrke’s leg that second baseman Willie Ruiz wasn’t able to retrieve in time to throw out Phillips at home.

Rockies 5 Indians 4 Tonight: Spokane at Portland, 7:05 Radio: KKPL 630-AM