Pitching Falters In Bears Loss

The Yakima Bears lost to the Spokane Indians 7-5 Sunday at Yakima County Stadium. Now 9-8, the Bears lead in the Northwest League East Division standings has been cut to two games.

The two teams traded runs throughout, as there were five lead changes and two ties. After giving up a run in the top of the first, the Bears took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning thanks to a two-run Josh Parr home run. The Indians scored a single run in both the second and third innings before the Bears responded in the fourth with two runs on two hits and an error. The Indians scored four more runs between the fifth and eighth innings, and the Bears managed only one more run in the bottom of the eighth thanks, in part, to another Indians error.

The Indians committed five errors before the game ended, while the Bears were mistake free behind the pitcher, but struggled on the mound. The pitching staff gave up a season-high seven runs. Starter Jeff Gibbs gave up no hits in one inning, but he walked three batters, hit two batters, and tossed four wild pitches while allowing two runs. Kyle Owings came on in the second after Gibbs had loaded the bases and managed to allow only of them to score and then went on to allow only one more run in a total of three innings pitched. Victor Acosta gave up one run in two innings and Enrique Burgos was tagged with three runs in two innings. Jose Jose tossed a scoreless ninth to finish out the night. The five pitchers combined for six walks and it was Burgos who took the loss.

The Bears outhit the Indians 11-9, but the offense had its struggles too, going 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Parr finished 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, a walk, two RBIs, a run, and a stolen base. Both Jimmy Comerota and Steven Rodriguez went 2-for-4.

The Bears are now 2-2 during this current six-game homestand. Game two of the series against the Indians is scheduled for 7:05 Monday at Yakima County Stadium. Lefty Alex Carreras will go for his league-leading fourth-straight win for the Bears, as he faces right-handed pitcher Jose Valdespina of Spokane.