BOURNEMOUTH Bears’ Triple-A pitcher Jose Lopez helped his side to two wins in a double-header against the visiting Essex Redbacks on Sunday.

13-2 and 14-10 victories moved the Bears to the top of the league with a 6-2 record from their opening eight fixtures.

Lopez dominated the Redbacks in game one, with seven strikeouts and only two runs crossing the plate. He gave the Bears the space to rack up thirteen runs in five innings, allowing them to take their fifth win of the campaign.

The Redbacks put the Bears on their back foot in game two however, taking the lead with five runs scored early on in the game.

Bears second baseman Williams Vega closed the gap for Bournemouth, reaching base six times in eight at-bats that day.

Hoping for some damage control, the Essex team intentionally walked Vega in the fifth inning, only for the next batter, first baseman Juan Miguel Ortega, to drive the ball up the right field line, scoring two runs.

Vega also made a key defensive play in that inning, diving to stop the ball and throwing the runner out while still on the ground. This, along with a clutch relief pitching appearance from Lopez, fuelled the Bears to come from behind to win 14 - 10.

The Bears will play the Essex Redbacks again next week in the return fixture, while the Single-A side hosts the New Forest Thunder Knights at Ferndown Leisure Centre.