10 Runs Leads To Bears Win, Again

The Yakima Bears beat the Boise Hawks 10-4 Tuesday night at Yakima County Stadium. The Bears took two of three from the Hawks, which was Yakima’s sixth-consecutive series win.

Three first-inning singles gave the Bears the lead and got Hawks’ manager Mark Johnson ejected for arguing the infield hit by Wagner Mateo. After the Hawks answered back with two runs in the third inning, the Bears tied the game in the fifth thanks to a Kevin Medrano sacrifice fly. The Bears were able to break the game open in the sixth inning when 10 batters came to the plate and produced six runs on four hits, two walks, and two hit batsmen. Both teams would add two runs in the final innings to finish the 10-4 victory.

Five Bears batters finished with a multi-hit game, led by Jimmy Comerota’s 3-for-4 effort. Jesus Abreu, Kevin Medrano, Shaun Cooper, and Wagner Mateo all had two hits apiece. Comerota and Mateo each tripled in the game and both of Cooper’s hits were doubles. Medrano and Comerota both drove in two runs, while Loftus and Comerota each scored two runs. The team had five walks to go along with the 12 hits on the night, all while going down on strikeouts just twice.

The Bears pitching staff finished with 11 strikeouts, but gave up an uncharacteristic four earned runs on the night. Starter Daniel Watts gave up two runs on five hits and no walks in five innings. Victor Acosta got his first win of the season after fanning five in two scoreless innings. Victor Capellan and RJ Hively each allowed one earned run in one inning of work.

The Bears lead in the Northwest League’s East Division remains two games, as the Tri-City Dust Devils won for the eighth time in nine games Tuesday. The Northwest League has Wednesday off for the Major League All-Star Game. The Bears start an eight-game road trip to Oregon and Idaho on Wednesday with the first of five games at Salem-Keizer. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35. Right-handed pitcher Blake Perry of the Bears is expected to face right-handed pitcher Joe Biagini of the Volcanoes.