Moseley pitches complete game as Bees prevail

The Salt Lake Bees have had some struggles with their bullpen taking care of leads late in games so far this season. Dustin Moseley made sure that wouldn't be a problem on Sunday afternoon at Franklin Covey Field.

Moseley pitched a rare complete game against the Tacoma Rainiers, leading the Bees to an 8-2 victory. It was the Bees' first complete game of the season and the first nine-inning complete game for the franchise since Chris Bootcheck did it in August of 2004.

"Moseley did a great job," said Bees manager Brian Harper. "He was in command pretty much the whole game."

Moseley improved to 5-1 with the victory, becoming the Pacific Coast League's first five-game winner this season in the process.

"When I get my change-up over for strikes down in the zone, it gets me deeper into games and allows me to have success by keeping guys off balance," said Moseley.

And that was the case on Sunday.

"He was throwing all of his off-speed stuff for strikes," explained Bees catcher Ryan Budde.

The Rainiers scored in the top of the first to take an early lead but then didn't get to Moseley again until the seventh when the Bees had a comfortable advantage. Moseley gave up just five hits with six strikeouts.

He was far from the only star on the day for the Bees, however. Third baseman Dallas McPherson had another huge outing against the Rainiers. He pounded two solo home runs off Tacoma starter Clint Nageotte. He now has five homers against Tacoma already this season, and his other two hits against the Rainiers have been doubles.

"I feel like it's coming around," said McPherson, a top Angels prospect who has been hampered by injuries the past two seasons, recently missing three games due to a strained oblique muscle. "Hopefully, I'll get it going."

Bees second baseman Casey Smith, recently recalled from Double-A, entered Sunday's game hitting just .133 in his six games for Salt Lake this year. He went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs to increase his season average to .263. Budde, meanwhile, also had a pair of hits and an RBI.

"It was real good to see Casey Smith and Ryan Budde get a couple big hits because they've been working really hard," said Harper.

The Bees took their first lead in the third on a two-run, ground-rule double by center fielder Reggie Willits.