Bears Start Homestand With 8-5 Loss

The Yakima Bears started a five-game series at Yakima County Stadium with an 8-5 loss to the Eugene Emeralds Monday night. The Bears have now lost three-straight games, tying a season high.

Three singles led to two Eugene runs in the second inning and two errors were key in allowing two more runs in the fifth inning. The Bears rallied with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, which was capped by a double by Joe Loftus to drive in two runs. The Emeralds answered with a four-run sixth inning, as an error by the Bears was followed by four-straight hits by the Emeralds, who took an 8-4 lead. Josh Parr would drive in one final Bears run in the ninth inning, using a single to plate Ronnie Freeman, who had reached on an error.

The two teams combined for 24 hits, six errors, and six stolen bases. Three of the Bears 10 hits came from Josh Parr, while Ronnie Freeman went 2-for-4. Joe Loftus stole three bases while going 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, and two runs batted in.

After Bears starter Blake Perry allowed two earned and two unearned runs in five innings, Victor Capellan took the loss, as he was charged with three earned runs and four runs total in two innings. Victor Acosta tossed two scoreless innings to finish the game.

The Bears are now 5-8 in the second half, four games behind the East Division leading Boise Hawks, who won at Everett Monday. Game two of the five-game series between the Bears and Emeralds at Yakima County Stadium is scheduled for 7:05 Tuesday night. Right-handed pitcher Derrick Stultz of the Bears is expected to start against Eugene lefty Juan Marcano.