Hard-luck Indians lose sixth straight game

HILLSBORO, Ore. – The Spokane Indians keep playing close games against the Hillsboro Hops – and keep losing.

Pedro Ruiz doubled with two outs in the 11th inning and scored on Zach Esquerra’s single as the Hops topped Spokane 5-4 Saturday to take a 4-0 lead in the Northwest League series at Ron Tonkin Field.

The series has featured three one-run games and two that went into extra innings. The Hops have outscored Spokane 15-10 in the low-scoring series to extend their winning streak to eight.

Spokane has dropped a season-high six consecutive games and nine of its last 11. The Indians are 1-8 against the Hops in a regular-season series that wraps up at 1:35 p.m. today.

The Hops took a 4-3 lead in the eighth on Stryker Trahan’s sacrifice fly to center field. The Indians responded in the ninth when Isiah Kiner-Falefa led off with a single, moved to third on Juremi Profar’s single and scored on Chuck Moorman’s ground out to third.

Losing pitcher Luis Pollorena (1-2) escaped trouble in the 10th with runners on the corners and nobody out. Steve Nyisztor lined into a double play and Trahan flew out to end the threat.

The Indians went 1-2-3 in the 10th and 11th against Rob Wort (2-0).

Spokane, which won the North Division first-half title with a record of 25-13, is 10-19 in the second half with nine games left in the regular season. The Indians will open the postseason Sept. 2 on the road against Tri-City, Vancouver or Everett.