Hops take the first of their six-game series with Spokane, 8-6

For the sixth time in seven tries, the Hops defeated league-leading Spokane, this time defeating the home Indians 8-6 in the first game of their six-game series on Tuesday, June 4, at Avista Stadium in Spokane.

With the win, Hillsboro (25-25) pulled within three games of the Indians in the Northwest League standings.

Andrew Pintar’s bases-clearing double in the eighth inning opened the game up for the Hops.

Pintar was 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run-scored in the game, and is now 5-for-8 with 10 RBI with the bases loaded this season.

Former Oregon State star Gavin Logan was 3-for-3 in the game, while Pintar, Gavin Conticello and Manuel Pena all tallied two hits.

Pitcher Logan Clayton got the start and earned the win for Hillsboro, giving up three earned runs on seven hits, while striking out three in six innings of work.

Victor Juarez took the loss for Spokane (27-21), allowing three earned runs in 5.1 innings.

The Hops trailed 2-0 after three innings but rallied to take a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning.

The two teams traded a run apiece in the sixth inning before Pintar’s bases-clearing double sparked a four-run eighth inning.

Spokane responded with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the eighth, but were put down in the ninth despite putting two runners on base with just a single out.

The two teams will face off again this evening at 6:35 p.m. in Spokane.