Bears trip Indians

YAKIMA – One big inning on offense and a two-hit performance by three pitchers was enough for the Yakima Bears to beat the Spokane Indians 3-2 in Northwest League baseball on Sunday.

The Indians’ loss assures the Tri-City Dust Devils of winning the East Division outright. The Dust Devils had clinched a playoff spot Saturday because they were assured of no worse than a tie for first place and hold the tiebreaker advantage over the Indians. Tri-City leads Spokane by eight games with seven to play.

Yakima starter Christopher Odegaard (2-7) allowed the Indians’ two runs on two hits over six innings, striking out four and walking three. Relievers Rafael Quezada and Alex Thieroff silenced the Spokane bats the rest of the way. Quezada struck out four and walked two over two innings, and Thieroff earned his first save of the season with a perfect ninth inning, striking out two.

The Indians scored first, on Jason Ogata’s fifth home run of the season leading off the second inning. Spokane struck again in the fifth. Daniel Lima led off the inning with a walk, stole second base and scored on Zach Zaneski’s single.

The Bears’ runs came in the third inning. A catcher interference call and two singles loaded the bases with no one out. After a sacrifice fly, single and walk with the bases loaded, Yakima lead 3-1.

Ben Henry (2-4) took the loss for the Indians.