Bears Lose, Game 3 Wednesday

The Yakima Bears lost 11-5 to the Boise Hawks in game two of the Northwest League East Division series Tuesday night at Yakima County Stadium. The series will be decided in game three Wednesday night in Yakima.

After a two-run home run from Gioskar Amaya gave the Hawks a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning, the Bears got a lead-off double from Josh Parr, a walk from Danny Poma, a sacrifice bunt from Yogey Perez-Ramos, and two runs were scored on a Kevin Medrano single in the bottom of the third. The Hawks took the lead back with a run in the fifth inning, but the Bears took the lead for the first time that same inning, as Kevin Medrano and Joe Loftus hit back-to-back singles to start the inning and Mark Ginther drove both runners in with a single. The Hawks tied the game with a two-out triple and a wild pitch in the eighth inning. In the ninth inning the Bears pitching staff retired the first two batters, but then the next nine batters reached and seven scored. The Bears got a ninth-inning pinch-hit single from Jimmy Comerota and he scored a run on a Jacob House double that ended the game, as he was tagged out trying to stretch it into a triple.

The loss went on Cody Wheeler, who was one of three Bears relievers that gave up at least one run. Bears starting pitcher Daniel Watts allowed three runs on six hits and two walks over five innings. All three Hawks pitchers also gave up runs. Tyler Bremer earned the win, as he gave up only one run in three innings and finished the game on the mound.

The Bears were outhit 13-12 and six of the Hawks hits were for extra bases (three doubles, two triples, and a home run). Kevin Medrano and Josh Parr both went 3-for-4, with Parr hitting a double and Medrano driving in two runs. Joe Loftus went 2-for-4, Mark Ginther’s lone hit gave him two RBIs, Jacob House hit a RBI double, and Jimmy Comerota singled in his only plate appearance.

Game three is scheduled for 7:05 at Yakima County Stadium. The winner will advance to the Northwest League Championship series, which will start Thursday in Vancouver against the defending league champion Canadians. Vancouver secured a spot in the championship series by winning the first two games of the West Division series against Everett. Wednesday at Yakima County Stadium the probable pitchers are right handers Jose Martinez of the Bears and Felix Pena of the Hawks.