Bears Maul Canadians 9-1

The Yakima Bears started the final homestand of the regular season with a 9-1 win over the Vancouver Canadians Tuesday night at Yakima County Stadium.

The Bears jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first two innings. The first inning started with singles from Yogey Perez-Ramos and Kevin Medrano, and both eventually scored on a Jacob House groundout and Mark Ginther single, respectively. Michael Lang later reached on a single to load the bases and Ronnie Freeman hit a double to plate two more runs that put the Bears up 5-0 after one inning. Perez-Ramos doubled to start the second inning and Medrano followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Joe Loftus hit a sacrifice fly to bring Perez-Ramos home and Medrano scored on a bases-loaded hit by pitch worn by Freeman. The only Canadians run came in the fourth inning. A pair of singles and an error led to two more runs in the eighth, as Perez-Ramos and Medrano scored again.

The Bears pounded out 12 hits. Yogey Perez-Ramos and Kevin Medrano both scored three runs, with Medrano going 4-for-5 and Perez-Ramos finishing 3-for-5. Ronnie Freeman went 1-for-3 with a double.

The pitching was equally impressive. Blake Perry earned his fifth win after allowing only one run on three hits and a walk in five innings. Kyle Owings, Jose Jose, Cody Wheeler, and Enrique Burgos each pitched a scoreless inning. The Canadians managed only three hits all night and sent only three batters to the plate in each of the final five innings, as well as two earlier innings.

The Bears are now ahead in the five-game series against Vancouver 1-0. Game two Wednesday is scheduled for 7:05. Right-handed pitcher Derrick Stultz is the probable starter for the Bears, while the Canadians are expected to start lefty Kyle Anderson.