Indians Even Series with Second Walk-Off
Published on June 22, 2015 under Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
If you are going to knock off the Hillsboro Hops, you better bring it in the 9th.
For the second time in the series, the Spokane Indians won in their final at bat. Tyler Sanchez blasted a 2-run home run to left field on the first pitch he saw from Myles Smith and the Tribe evened their five-game series with Hillsboro with a 4-2 victory Sunday afternoon in front of 4,699 fans at Avista Stadium.
Sanchez was 1-for-11 in the series and his passed ball in the second inning led to Hillsboro's first run. But, after Dylan Moore, walk-off hero of Thursday night's Spokane win, reached on a leadoff error, Sanchez jumped on a first-pitch fast ball to make Spokane's first home run of the season a game-winner.
Smith entered the game in a tight spot in the eighth inning with runners at first and second base and none out in a 2-2 tie. The hard-throwing righty from the Motor City proceeded to mow down Doug Votolato before Jamie Potts hit a comebacker to the mound for the second out, moving the runners into scoring position. Smith then whiffed LeDarious Clark to end the threat.
Hillsboro's first run of the game came on an aggressive bit of baserunning from young leftfielder Gerard Hernandez. Stationed at third base with one out in the second inning, Hernandez took an aggressive secondary lead as Nic Coffman hit a three-foot dribbler in front of home plate. Sanchez fielded the ball and had a long look at Hernandez, who refused to budge. When Sanchez pivoted to throw to first, Hernandez made a break for home and scored easily to put the Hops up 1-0.
It was the first professional at bat for Coffman, the free agent signee from Portland, who just completed his junior year at NAIA Corban University in Salem after a two-year run at Lane Communtiy College in Eugene. Coffman would have three productive at bats, driving in Hernandez before drawing a pair of walks. Coffman's second walk came in the 8th after Spokane took a 2-1 lead in the seventh inning on a throwing error by shortstop Sergio Alcantara. It was Alcantara's third error of the game and fifth of the series.
With Coffman at second base and two outs in the eight inning, Zach Nehrir lined a base hit up the middle to tie the game at 2-2.
Luis Parra pitched a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout to earn his second win of the series for Spokane. The Indians outhit the Hops 8-4 in the win. In both walk-off wins, the Hops were tied with the Indians in the ninth, despite being doubled up in the hit column. Credit that to fine pitching from Carlos Hernandez, who allowed just four hits and no walks in six innings, striking out seven while allowing one unearned run. Three of Spokane's four runs were unearned on four HIllsboro errors, while the Indians played error-free ball for the first time in the series after commtting 11 miscues in the first three games.
While the errors were costly for Hillsboro, the Hops also got outstanding play from Raymel Flores at second base, who saved three base hits with his outstanding glove work.
The Hops and Indians wrap up their season-opening series Monday night at 6:30 p.m. Top-twenty prospect Jefferson Mejia will get the call on the hill for the Hops against Spokane's Cody Palmquist. Tune in to Rip City Radio 620 at 6:00 p.m. for pregame coverage.
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