Spokane Indians Suffer 14-0 Defeat to Hillsboro Hops in Series Finale

On Sunday, a persistent wind gusted in from right field, yet it did not hinder the Hillsboro Hops in their quest for victory. The Hops dominated the Spokane Indians with a staggering 16 hits, including three home runs and nine extra-base hits, concluding the High-A Northwest League series at Avista Stadium with a decisive 14-0 loss for the Indians.

This defeat leaves Spokane (23-34) tied for last place with Vancouver, while Hillsboro improves to 26-31 after claiming four out of six games in the series. With just nine games remaining in the first half of the NWL season, the pressure is mounting for the Indians.

Hillsboro took the lead in the third inning when Yassel Soler started with a double and later scored due to a throwing error by catcher Juan Castillo. Outfielder Avery Owusu-Asiedu then delivered a powerful blow, sending a fastball soaring over the netting above the left-field wall for his fifth home run of the season, putting the Hops ahead 3-0. Soler contributed again in the same inning, hitting a double that brought in two runners who had walked.

Spokane managed to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the third, but Jack O'Dowd and Ethan Hedges both popped up to the infield, squandering the Indians' best chance to score. Slade Caldwell added to the Hops' lead in the seventh inning with a homer that traveled over the 401 mark in center field, marking his third of the season. Hillsboro added another run that inning, extending their lead to 8-0.

In the eighth, the Hops piled on five more runs, highlighted by a three-run double from Alberto Barriga, which raised reliever Hunter Omlid's ERA to a challenging 13.50 for the season. Starting pitcher Jordy Vargas struggled through three innings, giving up five runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out four batters.

The Indians are set to hit the road for a six-game series against the Emeralds in Eugene, with the first game scheduled for Tuesday at 6:35 p.m.