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Spokane Indians

Spokane Indians crank up offense to rout Hillsboro

By Johnathan Curley For The Spokesman-Review

HILLSBORO, Oregon – Spokane starting pitcher Tyler Phillips tossed five strong innings alongside a powerful offense in Monday night’s 13-1 victory over the Hillsboro Hops (22-16) in the final game of a five game Northwest League series.

In five innings, Phillips surrendered four hits, one run, no walks, while he struck out eight.

The Indians (16-22) allowed Ryan Grotjohn to score on a fielder’s choice groundout by Camden Duzenack to give Hillsboro a 1-0 lead in the first.

Spokane tied the game in the third as Kobie Taylor walked to begin the frame and scored on an error by Hops first baseman Eudy Ramos.

The Indians established their first lead later in the inning as two runs scored on Clayton Middleton’s first triple of the season for a 3-1 lead.

Austin O’Banion followed up the triple with an RBI single to score Middleton.

The Indians scored two more runs on Yonny Hernandez’s first career home run in the fourth inning.

Tyler Ratliff grounded out in the sixth inning which pushed across Hernandez for an additional run.

After Ratliff’s groundout, Middleton reached base after Ramos committed his second fielding error of the game, which also allowed Miguel Aparicio to score and increase the lead to 8-1.

Aparicio took advantage of a two-out, bases-loaded opportunity in the seventh inning with a three-run single for an 11-1 score.

Hernandez struck again in the ninth inning with an RBI single and Aparicio followed with a fielder’s choice that scored Kobie Taylor and ultimately increased Spokane’s lead to 13-1.

Indians relief pitchers Noah Bremer and Alex Eubanks combined for four shutout innings while they allowed only one baserunner on a hit and struck out five to secure the victory.

Aparicio and Hernandez both collected three RBI on two hits.

Hillsboro committed three total errors in the loss.

The Indians return to Avista Stadium on Tuesday to face the Everett Aquasox at 6:30 p.m to begin a three-game homestand.