On the final game of a 14-game homestand, the Bees fell to Sacramento 1-0 Sunday. Mark Kiger had the only score with a third-inning home run over the right-center fence.

Sacramento starter Shane Komine scattered four hits and held the Bees scoreless in seven innings of work and Salt Lake squandered a couple of chances late to tie the game, but couldn't get anyone across the plate.

"It was a disappointing performance," Bees manager Brian Harper said. "We had a runner picked off and another thrown out at home. We play aggressive but those plays were just unfortunate."

In the sixth inning, with Salt Lake trailing 1-0, Curtis Pride singled to left, advanced to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on Howie Kendrick's broken bat roller to second base. Mike Eylward hit a deep shot to the shortstop, who threw to catcher Jeremy Brown, who applied the tag to Pride.

Salt Lake also got the leadoff batter aboard in the ninth when Kendrick singled to left. After two Bees struck out, Jason Aspito singled to center, advancing Kendrick to third. The game ended when Ryan Budde flied out to the warning track in center.

Despite the loss, Salt Lake went 11-3 on the homestand. The Bees face the River Cats 11 more times during the next three weeks. Sandwiched between the opening loss to Fresno and Sunday's closing loss to the River Cats, Salt Lake had only one other loss and still stands 14 games over .500. The Bees lead the Northern Division of the Pacific Coast League by five games.

Salt Lake starter Jeff Heaverlo, pitched well. He worked six complete innings, gave up the home run and five other hits, while striking out four and walking just one batter. Nate Bland and Chris Bootcheck worked three scoreless innings in relief.

Salt Lake catcher Jeff Mathis may have made the play of the day, however. With the River Cats' leadoff hitter aboard in the seventh, Sacramento's Richie Robnett popped up a sacrifice bunt in front of the plate. Mathis let the ball drop, picked it up, threw to the shortstop who was covering second base, who then threw to first for a 2-6-3 double play.

BEES WAX: Pride, who was 2-for-4 Sunday, has now batted in the Nos. 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8th position this year for the Bees . . . Attendance was 4,272 . . . With temperatures in the 90s, the Bees wore black jerseys, while the River Cats were in dark maroon ones . . . Salt Lake opens a four-game set today in Colorado Springs, where temperatures are supposed to be the 60s all week. LHP Joe Saunders is to start for Salt Lake tonight . . . Jeff Weaver, who had a complete-game shutout the last time he pitched for the Bees, is Wednesday's scheduled starter.

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E-mail: jringwood@desnews.com