BEARS WIN THRILLER TO SWEEP INDIANS

(Yakima) - In an emotional come-from-behind win in which the benches and bullpens emptied, the Yakima Bears beat the Spokane Indians to complete a three-game sweep at Yakima County Stadium.

Down by two in the sixth, the Bears scored three times to take the lead. After Aaron Hanke and Mike Mee reached on walks, Evan Frey hit a slow groundball to second. Spokane second baseman Matt Lawson threw wildly to second on a force out attempt, allowing Hanke to score and Mee to move to third. A wild pitch would send Mee home to tie the game, before Mark Hallberg gave the Bears the lead with a sacrifice fly.

In the seventh, the Bears would score another on base hit with runners on second and third with two outs by Mee. Ramon Ramirez scored from third, but then Hanke was thrown out at home. On the play, Spokane catcher Jonathon Greene would shove Hanke while he was on the ground after he slid in. The benches emptied and Greene was ejected.

The Indians took the lead in a four-run fifth, highlighted by a three-run homerun to center by Greene. Kenny Smith singled in a run to start the rally.

The Bears scored in both the first and second innings on RBI fielder's choice groundouts. The Bears scored twice in the third as well on a sacrifice fly by Hanke and an RBI single by Mee.

Hanke and Mee both had perfect nights, with Hanke going 2-2 with two runs and an RBI and Mee going 3-3 with a run and two RBI's.

Ian Harrington earned his first professional win with 1.2 scoreless innings of relief and two strikeouts and no walks. Daniel Vasquez followed with two scoreless innings and a strikeout, and Scott Maine closed it to earn his first save with a scoreless ninth.

With the win, the Bears are now one game behind Spokane for first place in the Northwest League East. The Bears will begin a three-game series Wednesday night at Boise, with Dan Fournier on the mound for Yakima against the Hawks.