Long ball lifts Bears to victory - SWX Right Now-Sports for Spokane, CdA, Tri-Cities, WA

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- The Yakima Bears started a five-game series at Nat Bailey Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia with a 3-1 victory against the Vancouver Canadians. The series-opening game featured a much-hyped pitching matchup and, while neither team had many hits, almost half of those hits were home runs.

Both teams hit a solo home run in the fourth inning after three scoreless innings. After being out of action since July 5th, Jacob House hit his first professional home run to give the Bears a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth before Art Charles hit his own home run to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth. In the sixth inning Michael Lang hit his fourth homer with the Bears, a two-run blast that put the Bears on top 3-1.

The pitching staff held that lead the rest of the way. Bears starter Blake Perry exited the game after allowing only one run on two hits and two walks in four and a third innings. RJ Hively then retired all eight batters he faced in a season-long two and two thirds innings to earn his first professional win. Will Locante walked the first two batters he faced, but retired the next three, including the final out of the bottom of the eighth on a dazzling catch made by Jimmy Comerota to strand two runners in scoring position. Locante finished the save by pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

The Bears outhit the Canadians 4-3 in the game. House had a double to go with his home run in a 2-for-4 night to herald his return to the lineup. Jesus Abreu had the other hit for the Bears and scored on the Lang home run.

Game two of the series between the Bears and Canadians is scheduled for 1:05 Sunday. Both teams are expected to start a right-handed pitcher, with Derrick Stultz going for the Bears and Roberto Osuna for the Canadians.