Shellacked In Spokane
August 30, 2016 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
With both Hillsboro and Spokane already playoff certified, this week is about preparation.
Having lost ten straight games entering this week's series in Spokane, including five to the Hops (19-12 2nd half, 38-31 overall), and carrying the worst record in the Northwest League in the second half of the season, the Indians (10-21, 29-40) clearly needed a tonic and they got one Monday night. The Tribe's moribund offense came alive with an eight-run fifth inning to run away with a 12-1 win over Hillsboro at Avista Stadium.
Hillsboro's only run came on a Josh Anderson RBI single in the third inning, scoring Adam Walton from second base. The Hops 1-0 lead wouldn't last long.
Spokane loaded the bases with three straight singles off Hops starting pitcher Bo Takahashi (4-2) in the bottom of the third. A Seth Spivey groundout and Luis Terrero base hit plated two runs and the Indians would not look back. Curtis Terry gave the Tribe a 3-1 lead in the fourth with an RBI double, later scoring on a two-out, RBI single by Charles LeBlanc, who went hitless against Hillsboro during a five-game series at Ron Tonkin Field last week.
Takahashi's night was over after seven hits and four runs in four innings. The game got out of hand quickly in the fifth as Hops reliever Dallas Newton was tattoed for four hits and three walks in 2/3 of an inning. Chad Smtih drove in two with a double and LeBlanc tripled later in the inning driving in two more. A close play at third base did not go the Hops' way and third baseman Josh Anderson was ejected after arguing that he had tagged LeBlanc before he reached third. Joey Rose came in to replace Anderson, becoming the 60th player to suit up for the Hops this season, extending a NWL record.
The Hops also made a switch on the mound, but Matt Pobereyko surrendered two more runs after a hit batter, a wild pitch and an RBI double by Terrero, before settling in to pitch two scoreless innings.
Prior to Anderson's ejection, the Hops third baseman extended his current hitting streak to eight games, going 1-for-3 at the plate to maintain his NWL batting average at .330, third-best in the league, Ben DeLuzio went 3-for-4 in the leadoff spot.
Scott Sebald (1-0) picked up the win with three scoreless innings of relief after starter Demarcus Evans was lifted after four innings, having walked five and allowed four hits. LeBlanc and Terrero each went 3-for-5 with three runs batted in and a run scored for Spokane. Spivey, Smith, Terry and Leody Taveras each scored two runs. The Indians outhit the Hops 12-6.
Game two of the series is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday night with pregame airtime at 6:05 p.m. on Rip City Radio 620 AM.
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Northwest League Stories from August 30, 2016
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- Tri-City Fall in Series Opener - Tri-City Dust Devils
- Spokane Explodes For 12 Runs In Win Over Hops - Spokane Indians
- Shellacked In Spokane - Hillsboro Hops
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