Canadians Overcome Late Deficit to Beat Bears - SWX Right Now-Sports for Spokane, CdA, Tri-Cities, WA

By Yakima Bears

        The Yakima Bears lost 3-2 against the Vancouver Canadians Wednesday night at Yakima County Stadium. The five-game series is now tied at 1-1.
        After the Canadians scored a run in the first inning, Bears starting pitcher Derrick Stultz allowed no more runs over his next four innings of work. Stultz would not factor in to the decision thanks to a Bears run in the second inning, but he did have five strikeouts on the night.
        The Bears scored the game-tying run in the second inning after Mark Ginther reached on a double and came home on a two-out Ronnie Freeman single. After Victor Acosta pitched the first of his two scoreless innings, Ronnie Freeman hit another two-out single in the bottom of the sixth inning to score Jacob House and give the Bears a 2-1 lead.
        The lead didn't last, as Will Locante allowed two runs after a walk, an error, and a double in the eighth inning.  Only one of the runs was earned, but it was Locante who took the loss. RJ Hively pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the Bears. The Yakima pitching staff combined to allow only four hits while retiring 10 Canadian batters on strikeouts.
        The Bears offense produced eight hits. Ronnie Freeman went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk. Yogey Perez-Ramos went also went 2-for-3 and Mark Ginther finished 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
        The Bears and Canadians play game three of the series Thursday night Yakima County Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05. Left-handed pitcher Daniel Watts of the Bears and right-handed pitcher Taylor Cole of the Canadians are the probable pitchers.