Austin O’Banion drives in six runs to power Indians past Hillsboro Hops

Austin O’Banion’s two home runs, one of which was a grand slam, lifted the Spokane Indians (15-22) to an 11-4 win over the Hillsboro Hops (22-15) in Saturday night’s Northwest League action.

The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for Hillsboro, which is battling Eugene for the first-half championship of the South Division. The first half concludes on Sunday.

Reiver Sanmartin started for Spokane and delivered six strong innings as he allowed three hits, one unearned run and one walk with five strikeouts.

The Indians struck first with O’Banion’s first home run, good for a 2-0 lead in the third inning.

Spokane added another run on an RBI single by Miguel Aparicio in the fourth inning.

O’Banion launched his first career grand slam, soon followed by a three-run home run by Curtis Terry for a 10-0 Spokane lead in the fourth. Terry added to the lead with a run-scoring double in the sixth.

Hillsboro got on the board in the sixth after a fielding error by Spokane shortstop Yonny Hernandez allowed Yan Sanchez to score. Camden Duzenack walked to begin the seventh inning and scored on a Tra’Mayne Holmes single. Dan Swain followed with a two run-double, which resulted in an 11-4 score after a three-run seventh inning.

Catcher Melvin Novoa extended his hit steak to 14 games for Spokane.

The Indians and Hops play the fourth game of a five-game series on Sunday at 4:05 p.m.