Alex Kowalczyk boosts Spokane Indians to win over Hillsboro

The Indians won their third game in four days, dropping the Hillsboro Hops 5-2 in the fourth game of a five-game Northwest League series on Thursday at Avista Stadium.

Spokane grabbed the lead in the fourth inning, as Alex Kowaczyk ripped a two-run home run to left field to put the Indians up 3-2.

Curtis Terry hit his first home run in an Indians’ uniform in the sixth inning, putting one over the left-center field fence to provide a two-run lead. Luis Terrero added another with a two-out RBI single to right field.

Spokane starter Tyler Phillips was sharp through 6 1/3 innings, giving up zero earned runs over five hits. Hillsboro’s only runs came off Phillips in the third. Adam Walton reached on a dropped by Indians’ left fielder Luis Terrero and was later driven in by Mark Karaviotis. A throwing error from Anderson Tejeda allowed Karaviotis to score the next at-bat.

The Indians struck in the first inning, as Charles Leblanc plated Luis Terrero on a single to center field to put Spokane up one.

Kowalczyk went 3 for 4 with a home run, a double and two RBIs to lead the Indians. Terrero and Terry each had two hits and an RBI.

Reid Anderson followed Phillips’ winning effort with 2 1/3 no-hit innings, earning the save.

Karaviotis was 2 for 3 with an RBI for the Hops.