YAKIMA, Wash. -- The Yakima Bears lost 12-4 to the Eugene Emeralds Tuesday night at Yakima County Stadium. The Bears have now lost four-straight games for the first time in 2012.
After falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first inning, the Bears scored three runs to take the lead in the bottom of the third, as four hits were highlighted by a Shaun Cooper triple. In the fourth inning Eugene scored three more runs, using three doubles to take a 5-3 lead. The Emeralds got the first four batters of the sixth inning aboard, leading to two runs. The Bears scored a run on a bases-loaded fielder's choice in the seventh inning, which was all team got in two separate bases-loaded, one-out opportunities. Eugene scored a run in the eighth inning and four more in the ninth to finish the scoring.
The bases were busy all game long. The two teams combined for 30 hits, 13 walks, and four stolen bases in seven attempts. Derrick Stultz, Kyle Owings, and Blake Forslund all gave up multiple runs, but it was Owings who took the loss. The 20 hits allowed (including seven doubles), 12 runs allowed, and eight-run margin of defeat all set new season highs for the Bears.
The Bears were led offensively by Kevin Medrano, who went 4-for-4 with a stolen base. Joe Loftus went 2-for-4 and Shaun Cooper's triple was the only extra-base hit for the Bears in the game.
The Bears now trail in the five-game series 2-0 with game three between the Bears and Emeralds scheduled for 7:05 Wednesday night at Yakima County Stadium. Lefty Alex Carreras of the Bears is set to oppose Emeralds right-handed pitcher Joe Ross.
