Indians’ fast start goes by wayside

YAKIMA – Jared Hoying homered to lead off the game for the Spokane Indians but it was almost all Yakima after that as the Bears went on to a 10-3 win Wednesday night in Northwest League baseball.

The victory before 1,656 fans lifted Yakima into a first-place tie with Spokane at 8-6 in the East Division.

The Indians added another run in the first on Clark Murphy’s RBI single, though Andrew Clark was thrown out at home trying to score behind Michael Olt.

The Bears tied the game in the bottom of the first against Benjamin Henry (2-3) and took the lead for good with a run in the third and three more in the fourth. The fourth-inning scores came with two outs, knocking Henry from the game.

Henry gave up six earned runs in 3 2/3 innings, and Justin Earls, the first of three Spokane relievers, surrendered three more in 1 2/3 innings.

Yakima starter Miguel Pena (3-4) gave up nine of the 12 Indians hits in five innings and all three Spokane runs but got the win.

Hoying, Clark, Murphy and Jacob Skole had two hits each for the Indians. Olt scored Spokane’s final run in the fifth. He walked with two out, stole second and scored on Clark’s hit.

The Bears had 15 hits, including a 4-for-5 night by leadoff hitter Michael Freeman. The second baseman scored three runs and drove in two.

Wednesday’s game was the opener of a three-game series. The Indians will then play a five-game series at Salem-Keizer before returning home.