Ems fall in game 1 to Yakima bears 6-2

The Emeralds entered tonight's game having lost 2 of the past 3 games on their most recent road trip against the Salem-Kaizer Volcanoes and looking to rebound in the first of 5 games against the Yakima Bears.

The Bears wasted little time in jumping ahead as they scored in the top of the first setting the tone for the next couple innings. Michael Weber started things off with a double down the right field that stayed just fair bouncing over the bag at first. After a walk was given up to Yazy Arbelo, Henrey Zabala hit a slicing ball down the right field line allowing Weber come around scoring the first run of the game. Yakima added another run in the top of the second when second baseman Mike Freeman grounded into a 4-3 fielders choice scoring catcher Kawika Emsley-Pai from 3rd. The Ems would fail to answer in the bottom of the second giving the Bears a chance to build on their lead once again in the top of the 3rd. Shortstop Zach Walters led off the inning with a triple to the base of the wall in right-center and was immediately knocked home on the first pitch of Henrey Zabala's at bat. Sampson would walk Roberto Ortiz on the next at bat but more importantly, was forced to be removed by an unknown injury. Mauricio Tabachnik would come in on relief taming the Bears offense only for a moment.

In the top of the 5th, clean-up hitter Yazy Arbelo, led off with a solo shot putting the Bears up 4-0. In the top of the 6th Tabachnik got 2 quick outs before the Bears offense would rally. After back to back hits by Freeman and Weber, and a walk issued to Walters, Tabachnik threw one to the backstop allowing Freeman to score for the Bears 5th run of the game. The Ems would get one back in the bottom of the 6th off Tyler Stubblefield's double to the wall in left-centerfield allowing Garcia to score all the way from second. Both teams would tack on another run, neither having much of an affect on the game, as it ended in a 6-2 loss for the Emeralds. Keyvius Sampson gets tagged with the loss going a dismal 2 1/3 innings allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks. Andrea Pizziconi gets credit for his second victory on the year and giving the Ems their 2nd consecutive loss and 3rd of the last 4 games.

The Emeralds look to bounce back in game 2 of this 5 game series tomorrow against the Bears; first pitch 2:05.