Derwin Barreto led off the batting order and led the Spokane Indians in a slugfest over the Hillsboro Hops 9-6.  The Indians only needed a four-run third and a five-run fifth to come back and take the lead for good.

Jorge Barrosa

The Hops squandered a very fine effort by center fielder Jorge Barrosa.  Going 3 for 5, Barrosa contributed to almost every run the Hops scored. In the first, Barrosa singled home Ricky Martinez to take an early 1-0 lead in the game.  Top of the third saw Liover Peguero single home Martinez and Barrosa to push the lead to 3-0.

By the time Tristin English homered with Barrosa on board in the eighth, the Indians already owned a 9-3 lead.  Jesus Marriaga later took home on a throwing error by Indians catcher David Garcia for the final score.

Two Inning Doom

In between those two scorings by the Hops, the Indians scored nine runs total in two bunches.  More than the Hops could overcome. Those two scoring binges featured five hits, four walks, two Hops errors and nine runs.  With one of those hits, Derwin Barreto led the Indians with a two-run homer and to their first lead of the game, 4-3.

The five-run fifth only served to distance the hosting Indians even further from their visitors.  After last night’s 8-2 Hops’ victory over the Indians, it was time for the Indians to pay back the favor.

Despite Best Efforts

Despite the best efforts from two excellent pitching staves, the game turned into the batter’s favor.  Ryne Nelson (L, 0-1) started for the Hops and pitched two fine innings but was chased in the third by the four run barrage and Derwin Barreta’s home run.

Jeury Tejada started for the Indians and gave up the first three runs to the Hops.  However, he left with the lead. Unfortunately, he used up his pitch count with 71 pitches by the end of the fourth and did not stay for the crucial fifth inning to record the win.  Instead, Werner Leal (W, 3-1) stepped in for three scoreless innings to earn the win. Joe Corbett (S, 2) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the save.

Standings

With the loss, the Hillsboro Hops’ lead in the Southern Division shrunk to three games over the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes with eight games left to play.  The win increased the Spokane Indian’s lead over the Tri-City Dust Devils to two games in the Northern Division. Both teams return to Avista Stadium for the third game of the four-game series.  Currently, the series is tied at one game a piece.

Hillsboro starts Conor Grammes (0-1) on the mound.  In his last appearance, Grammes pitched three scoreless innings on a limited pitch count with only one hit in the no decision.  Facing him, the Indians start Justin Slaten (0-1). In his last appearance, also on limited pitch count, Slaten tossed two scoreless innings with only two hits for the no decision.

Game time is 5:09 PM for this Sunday’s game.

Stay with the Minor League Sports Report for game recaps throughout the season.  Also, follow me on Twitter for half inning updates on all Hops home games. Next home game will be August 28th, Wednesday, when the Hops return to host the Boise Hawks in their final home stand of the regular season.

Box Score

By 

Greg Stoker

@GDStoker