Spokane Indians come back late but lose the series finale against Vancouver in the walk-off

VANCOUVER, BC – Despite a furious comeback, the Spokane Indians lost 7-6 to the Vancouver Canadians in the finale of a three-game Northwest League series at Nat Bailey Stadium on Sunday.

The loss ended a seven-game winning streak for the Indians (18-6), who entered the second half with a one-game lead over the Canadians (17-7). Spokane is 18-4 against Vancouver this season.

The Indians scored five runs in the eighth inning to take a 6-5 lead, but reliever Welinton Herrera worked two walks in the ninth and then allowed a two-run double by Brennan Orf for the walk-off hit. Orf’s liner to the left field corner brought Dasan Brown home from third base and Nick Goodwin was safely home when catcher Bryant Betancourt dropped the relay throw.

Indians second baseman Dyan Jorge scored the game’s first run in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly by Jake Snider.

Indians starter Connor Staine managed a no-hitter until the sixth inning, but quickly ran out of steam. He hit leadoff hitter Brown, then Brown stole second base. Jace Bohrofen walked and Peyton Williams’ ground ball was brought through for an RBI single. After a visit from pitching coach Blaine Beatty on the mound, Goodwin’s liner to center was misread by EJ Andrews Jr. and it became an RBI double.

Stainne faced the next two batters, but catcher Robert Brooks hit a hanging breaking ball on Staine’s 104th pitch of the game for a two-run homer, ending the starter’s appearance.

Staine managed a total of four walks in this appearance and struck out five times in 5 2/3 innings.

Andrews hit a long home run to left in the eighth inning, a two-run shot, his fourth of the season, to tie the game at 5-3. Later in the inning, with runners on the corners, Juan Guerrero hit a bouncer up the middle to short center. Jorge scored easily from third base and Snider ran around the bases to tie the game when the catcher missed the throw home.

Betancourt followed with a scoring ground-rule double to take the lead.

The Indians begin a six-game road series in Eugene on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m.