6/25/09 Bears update
June 25, 2009 by Roger Underwood
Next game
Opponent: Eugene Emeralds.
When, where: 7:05 p.m. today, Yakima County Stadium.
Radio: KUTI 1460.
Probable pitchers: Eugene LHP Pedro Hernandez (0-1, 12.50) vs. Yakima RHP Rafael Quezada (0-1, 4.50).
Notes
OPENING NIGHT REVISITED: Bears officials were still beaming Wednesday about the franchise’s most successful home opener in recent memory.
The overflow crowd, announced at 3,047 (Yakima County Stadium’s capacity is listed at 2,654), was the largest anyone affiliated with the current regime could remember.
The weather — warm and still — was perfect, and the team won an entertaining 6-5 game highlighted by a 410-foot, two-run homer by 18-year-old third baseman Matt Davidson.
Asked if he could have scripted a more positive scenario, general manager K.L. Wombacher thought for a second, then smiled and said, “No.”
IT’S SUMMER(S) AGAIN: Houston Summers is back with the Bears, marking the third straight year that he’s spent at least part of his season in Yakima.
The catcher-utility infielder-turned-knuckleball pitcher recently returned from a spot start for Class Double-A Mobile in a game at Jacksonville.
“It went great,” he said. “I think 14 of my 19 first pitches were strikes.”
Summers, 21 and a 47th-round draft pick in 2005, said he greatly improved his control of the knuckler during extended spring training.
Control was Summers’ primary problem last year when as a Bears starter he went 5-7 with a 5.29 earned run average.
Manager Bob Didier said Summers will initially be used as a spot starter and middle reliever.
Click here for Northwest League standings
Filed under All, Pros, Yakima Bears/NWL
