YAKIMA It's nothing new, this matter of low-scoring teams struggling mightily to win games. But that doesn't mean it can't become especially old for a squad thus plagued.
"It's been proven," Bears manager Bob Didier said Wednesday night, having witnessed another distasteful example of that age-old axiom. "In rookie ball, single-A ball, whatever, you have to score four to six runs a game to win."
Or one more than Yakima managed against East Division leader Tri-City at Yakima County Stadium.
The Bears' 4-3 loss was their fifth straight, matching their second-longest skid of the year, while the Dust Devils' fifth consecutive triumph moved them closer to the East title.
Secured by Jeremiah Sammy's two-out RBI single in the ninth inning, after which Charles Ruiz came on for his league-leading 16th save in 17 chances, the victory kept Tri-City (39-26) seven games up on second-place Spokane with 11 to play.
It also made setup man Craig Bennigson, who allowed no hits through the seventh and eighth, the league's first eight-game winner (8-3).
Yakima had enjoyed scant success against Tri-City starter Rob Scahill, who was in line for his first win against four losses when he left with a 3-0 lead through five innings.
But Tim Sherlock launched a double off the wall in right-center off reliever Eric Federico in the sixth that scored two. Sherlock took third on Gerson Montilla's single, then scored on a wild pitch.
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Tri-City drops road game 7-5
Tri-City drops road game 7-5
VANCOUVER -- The Tri-City Dust Devils scored four runs in the top of the third to take a 4-1 lead but ended up giving it right back the next inning in a Northwest League loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Nat Bailey Stadium.
Tim Smalling went 3-for-4 with two runs and hit his NWL-leading seventh triple of the year to tie the score at one. Tyler Massey, Jared Simon and Leonardo Reyes each added RBI singles to cap the scoring in the third.
The Dust Devils (17-13
second half) remained in first place in the East Division, but Yakima (15-15) pulled to within two games with a 6-0 win at Everett. Tri-City already clinched a NWL playoff berth by winning the first-half title.
Defense huge in Dust Devils' 2-1 win over Indians
Defense huge in Dust Devils' 2-1 win over Indians
The Northwest League All-Star team is due out this week, and the playoff-bound Tri-City Dust Devils should earn a few spots on the team. One thing the NWL doesn’t have is a defensive award. If it did, the Dust Devils certainly would grab another healthy handful of honors.
Tri-Cities' Gagnon too sharp S-K this time
Tri-Cities' Gagnon too sharp S-K this time
PASCO -- The last time Tyler Gagnon faced the Salem-Keizer lineup, things didn't go so well.
The Tri-City Dust Devils' right-hander from Brentwood, Calif., allowed 10 earned runs in a 14-2 road loss on July 10, a defeat he's still trying to put behind him.
But he doesn't want to forget that feeling, either.
Dust Devils' offense missing vs. Volcanoes
Dust Devils' offense missing vs. Volcanoes
PASCO -- The Tri-City Dust Devils had an opportunity to give Salem-Keizer some trouble Wednesday night at Gesa Stadium.
Trailing by four entering the ninth inning, the Dust Devils loaded the bases with nobody out against Volcanoes reliever Cody Hall.
But Hall struck out Jayson Langfels and David Hernandez before Phil McCormick came in to induce a game-ending groundout by Brian Humphries to clinch the Volcanoes' 4-0 Northwest League win.
LIVE BLOG: Dust Devils vs. Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, Game 3
LIVE BLOG: Dust Devils vs. Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, Game 3
Here's a quick Dust Devils alumni update: Russell Wilson, who played second base here in 2010 before heading back to the North Carolina State football team, where he started at quarterback.
Well, this year, he's quarterbacking Wisconsin after he was essentially shown the door at NC State when he chose to keep playing baseball in the Colorado Rockies' system. But it's been a great pickup for the Badgers, who beat UNLV tonight 51-17 in the season opener for both teams.
Wilson played most of the game and showed he is a great fit for the offense. As expected, he handed the ball off a lot, but he was also efficient when it came to making passes. Wilson completed 10-of-13 passes for 255 yards and two TDs. He also broke off an impressive 46-yard touchdown run near the end of the first half, getting a couple of great blocks along the way.
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