Spokane’s Pitcher Tries to Return Strong After Injury

Gabriel Hughes, a former Gonzaga star now with the Colorado Rockies system, faced a rehab game at Avista Stadium to shake off a side muscle injury. He threw six innings, striking out six batters while giving up only two hits and a walk. Despite his effort, the Spokane Indians lost 4‑2 to the Hillsboro Hops in a high‑stakes series. Hughes had a rocky 2023 season, spending much of the year on the disabled list after elbow surgery. He returned earlier this year but was placed back on the injured list when discomfort flared up again.During his rehab outing he mixed a fastball, slider and change‑up with a new sweeper pitch that helped him stay ahead of hitters. A key moment came when catcher Alan Espinal threw out a would‑be base stealer, giving Hughes extra confidence. The game remained scoreless until the fifth inning. After a series of errors and strategic plays, Hillsboro managed to pull ahead and maintain the lead through the final inning.