YAKIMA, Wash. — Bend pitcher R.J. Robles held Yakima Valley to three runs over seven innings, but the Elks came up short on offense in a 4-2 West Coast League loss to the Pippins on Saturday night.

Bend, which dropped its fifth straight, took a 2-0 lead in the third inning on an RBI double by Tristen Alvarez and RBI groundout by Alex Pallios.

Yakima Valley countered with a run in the bottom half of the inning on Elijah Green’s double and added two more in the fourth on RBI groundouts by Tyler Hollow and Victor Cerny.

Sean Mullen singled in an insurance run in the eighth and the Pippins held on to improve to 5-3. The Elks dropped to 2-6.

Mason Wells (1-0) struck out six over seven innings to earn the win, while Robles (0-1) took the loss.

Yakima Valley looks to polish off a three-game sweep in Sunday’s series finale.

— Bulletin staff report