Vancouver comes back again to defeat Indians

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The Spokane Indians are struggling to maintain late leads.

Despite finishing with a 15-7 advantage in hits Friday, the Indians dropped a 7-6 Northwest League decision to the Vancouver Canadians in a game that was similar to Thursday’s loss to open a five-game set at Nat Bailey Stadium.

Vancouver (14-20) rallied from a 5-3 deficit with a three-run eighth, then scored the winner in the ninth after Spokane (12-22) had tied the game in the top of the inning.

Jared Prince’s RBI single to right field in the first helped Spokane take a 2-0 lead.

Vancouver seized a 3-2 edge in the second. Rashun Dixon had an RBI double to left and scored on Tyreace House’s single.

Edward Martinez and Cody Podraza had RBI singles in the third to lift the Indians to a 4-3 edge.

The lead grew to 5-3 in the fifth as Tommy Mendonca led off with a single, moved up on a single and bunt, and scored on Podraza’s sacrifice fly.

Vancouver erupted against Justin King in the eighth, scoring three runs with two singles, two walks and two wild pitches.

Kyle Rhoad’s two-out RBI single in the ninth drew the Indians even, but Anthony Aliotti’s sacrifice fly off Reinier Bermudez (1-2) won it for the Canadians.