YAKIMA, Wash. -- The Yakima Bears lost 6-3 to the Everett AquaSox Saturday night in front of the largest crowd at Yakima County Stadium in 2012. With 2,283 fans on hand, the Bears repeated the late-game struggles that had earned the team losses in the first two games of the series. Late, unearned runs hung another loss on the bullpen, as Everett has already claimed the series win three games in to the five-game set.
A solo home run in the second inning gave the AquaSox an early lead, but the Bears scored two runs in the third, which was highlighted by a Wagner Mateo RBI-double. After Everett tied the game in the top of the fourth inning with a single run, the Bears moved in front with a run in the bottom on the fourth thanks to three singles and an AquaSox error. That 3-2 lead would hold for the Bears until the eighth inning, when two errors and three hits added up to three unearned runs for Everett against reliever Victor Acosta. The AquaSox would score one more run in the ninth inning.
Acosta fell to 1-2 on the season, allowing three unearned runs on three hits and a walk in two innings of work. Blake Perry gave the Bears a quality start, allowing only two runs on six hits and a walk in six innings on the hill. Chase Brewer pitched the ninth, and gave up one run on two hits and two walks.
Three players finished with two-hit games, as the Bears finished with 10 hits as a team. Mateo went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, and a run batted in. Adam McConnell had his second-straight two-hit game with a 2-for-4 performance. Danny Poma finished 2-for-5. Joe Loftus ended 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, and a run scored.
The Bears continue the five-game series with game four Sunday at Yakima County Stadium. Game time between the Yakima Bears and Everett AquaSox is scheduled for 5:35. The Bears are expected to start right-handed pitcher Kyle Owings against AquaSox probable starting pitcher Rusty Shellhorn.
