Mail Tribune Sports - Soto lifts T'jacks to win over Bears

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Soto lifts T'jacks to win over Bears YAKIMA -- Where a grand slam wasn't enough, a nice towering solo shot filled the bill for the Southern Oregon Timberjacks Tuesday night. The Northwest League Southern Division leader Timberjacks have rarely done anything the easy way this summer and the third of five games against Yakima proved to be no different. Jorge Soto's 370-foot drive in the top of the 11th on the first pitch he saw from losing pitcher Jose Ugas boosted the Timberjacks to a 9-8 victory and kept Southern Oregon three-and-a-half games in front of second-place Portland. The Timberjacks took an 8-4 advantage in the top of eighth inning only to give it away in the bottom of the ninth. Matt Forbes drilled a 3-2 pitch off Yakima right-hander Scott Proctor for a grand slam to give Southern Oregon the lead. But TJs reliever Jay Crawford allowed three hits and a walk with two out in the ninth as the Bears tied it. It stayed that way until the 11th when Soto smacked his ninth homer of the summer. Soto tied the NWL record for most put outs in a game by first baseman. The record was set by Henry Robinson of Walla Walla against Coos Bay-North Bend on Aug. 16, 1972. The two teams will due battle again tonight at 7. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune   Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.