Spokane Indians snap six-game losing streak

HILLSBORO, Ore. – Josh Morgan drove in the go-ahead run and Eduard Pinto hit his first home run of the season as the Spokane Indians defeated the Hillsboro Hops 7-4 on Sunday to snap a six-game Northwest League losing streak.

Luke Tendler hit a double, his 16th of the season, to lead off the sixth against reliever Mike Cetta (1-3), who then threw a wild pitch to send Tendler to third. Morgan followed with his ground-ball single to center for a 5-4 lead.

The Indians added their final runs in the eighth. Jeremi Profar singled and Fernando Vivili doubled, his 12th, with one out before Saquan Johnson followed with an RBI single and Pinto with a sacrifice fly.

Spokane opened the game with three consecutive singles by Pinto, Diego Cedeno and Seth Spivey, the latter bringing home Pinto. Tender’s one-out single scored Cedeno. The Indians added two more runs in the second for a 4-0 lead on Pinto’s homer after Johnson had singled.

South Division leader Hillsboro (20-10 second half) scored a pair of runs in both the second and fifth innings to tie the game.

Cedeno and Johnson finished with three hits each. Pinto, who had three RBIs, Spivey and Tendler each had two hits.

Andrew Barnett (5-3), the second of four Indians pitchers got the win with four innings of relief. Adam Parks pitched the ninth for his fourth save.

The victory improved the Indians’ second-half record to 11-19.

Tonight at 6:30 the Indians open their final homestand of the regular season – a five-game set against Salem-Keizer at Avista Stadium. They then play three games at Vancouver before opening the league playoffs, having advanced to the postseason by winning the first-half North Division title.