Spokane Indians Pregame: 5-game series kicks off at Avista

The Spokane Indians (3-0) face the Hillsboro Hops (3-0) in the first of a five-game Northwest League series at Avista Stadium at 6:30 p.m.

The Indians send Ryan Dease (3-2, 5.58) against the Hops’ Matt Tabor (1-1, 4.68).

Dease is 3-0 at Avista Stadium this season, but last time out against Hillsboro the 2017 fourth round pick was hit hard, allowing six earned runs on seven hits.

Tabor, the third-round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2017 Draft, earned the win that night with five shutout innings. He’s allowed 12 earned runs in his last seven starts.

Lineup:

Player to watch: SS Jax Biggers. He’ll occupy this spot until his hitting streak ends, which is up to 11 games after a fifth inning single last night. It’s the longest hitting streak by an Indians player this season. The recently-promoted Miguel Aparicio had a 12-game streak earlier this year but it was a carry-over from last season.

Hillsboro top prospects: OF Jake McCarthy (No. 8, 39th overall pick, 2018 MLB Draft), OF Tra Holmes (No. 30, 11th round pick, 2017), C Andy Yerzy (2nd/2016), RHP Matt Tabor (3rd/2017), RHP Jackson Goddard (3rd/2018), RHP Ryan Weiss (4th, 2018), INF Joey Rose (5th/2016).

Last night: Isaias Quiroz hit a broken-bat single to plate the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Indians (3-0) handled the visiting Dust Devils (0-3) 5-3 for their third straight win to start the .

Diosbel Arias went 3 for 4 with an RBI and run and Cristian Inoa went 2 for 4 with an RBI.

Starter Seth Nordlin struck out eight over 6.1 innings and allowed three runs in seven hits and a walk. Emmanuel Clase (1-1) allowed a hit and a walk with two strikeouts over two shutout innings.

Promotion: Fireworks Night!

Weather: Game time – Partly sunny, 92. Final out – Partly cloudy, 74.

Around the league: