Hops' lose in walk-off fashion at first place Spokane

Losses don’t get much tougher than that.

Despite a ninth inning lead and outhitting Spokane 13-7, the Hops dropped their series opener with the Indians 5-4 on Tuesday night, July 30, at Avista Stadium.

Trailing by a run, Spokane loaded the bases off of Hops reliever Alfred Morillo in the bottom of the ninth inning, setting the table for Kyle Karros’ one-out double that plated EJ Andrews and Cole Carrigg for the game-winning runs.

Morillo allowed a single before recording a walk and hit-by-pitch, leading to Karros’ game-winner.

With the loss, Hillsboro dropped 10 games behind the first place Indians.

The defeat overshadowed an otherwise great Hops night at the plate, one that included four batters with multiple hits, including Christian Cerda who finished 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double, three RBI and two runs-scored.

Hillsboro scored two runs in the second inning, then one in the fourth before taking a 4-3 lead in the eighth inning on a Jose Fernandez RBI single.

Logan Clayton started the game on the mound for the Hops and was solid, allowing two earned runs on just three hits in six innings of work.

Carlos Torres earned the win for Spokane, shutting out Hillsboro over the game’s final 1.1 innings.

Hillsboro and Spokane will play game two of the series at 6:35 p.m. tonight, at Avista Stadium.