Bears take series opener as Indians fall apart late

YAKIMA – Yakima scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Saturday to break open a close game and the Bears defeated the Spokane Indians 8-2 in Northwest League baseball action at Yakima County Stadium.

Konrad Schmidt’s two-run double in the eighth put Yakima ahead 6-2.

The loss dropped Spokane to 9-10 on the season while the Bears improved to 6-13. The Indians remain atop the East Division standings.

Spokane got on the scoreboard first when Matthew Lawson scored on a wild pitch by Yakima starting pitcher Luis Caro in the top of the first. Lawson finished with one hit and two stolen bases.

The Bears responded in the bottom of the inning when Evan Frey scored on a sacrifice fly by Joseph Batten.

Spokane took a 2-1 lead in the second when Timothy Rodriguez singled home Steven Marquardt.

Mark Hallberg went 3 for 3 and drove in two runs and Frey had three hits and scored twice to lead Yakima’s offense.

Caro made life difficult for Spokane’s hitters. Caro allowed two runs on just five hits in seven innings of work and improved his record to 2-1.

Jason Urquidez worked the final two innings to earn his first save of the season.

No Indians hitter had more than one hit.

Keisuke Ueno took the loss for Spokane after giving up two runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief. Starter Ryan Tatusko went five innings, giving up two runs on seven hits, including a solo home run to Ramon Ramirez to lead off the fourth.

Ramirez finished 2 for 4 and scored two runs and Schmidt scored twice and drove in two runs for the Bears.

Frey and Hallberg each hit RBI doubles in the seventh to put Yakima ahead 4-2.

The Indians and Bears play the second game of their three-game series tonight at 5:35 in Yakima.