Bees defeat Beavers

Salt Lake knows how to act when the stadium is packed and the cameras are on.

In the first of 10 televised games of the season, Bees' first baseman Kendry Morales delivered a two-run single with one out in the bottom of the 10th to lead the Bees to a 4-3 victory over Portland for their second consecutive victory.

"You've got to give Kendry credit because he overswung the first couple of swings and when he got two strikes he cut his swing down a little bit and put the ball in play," Salt Lake manager Brian Harper said. "He made a good adjustment in that at-bat."

Portland's Michael Johnson belted the first home run in his Triple-A career to give the Beavers a 3-2 lead in the top of the 10th inning at it appeared he would send 10,108 home on a sour note.

Salt Lake's Ryan Budde singled to open the 10th and Tommy Murphy sacrificed pinch-runner Gary Patchett to second, but a throwing error by the Beavers on the play allowed Patchett to reach third and Murphy second.

After Matt Brown struck out, the Beavers intentionally walked Maicer Iztruis, who had two hits in the game, to load the bases and set up the double-play.

Morales, who was 0-for-3 before the final at-bat, singled down the first-base line as the Bees improved to 33-28.

Morales's heroics came too late to give starter Kasey Olenberger the victory, however.

Olenberger (6-3) fired eight strong innings but was handed his fourth no-decision of the season. He allowed just two runs on six hits while striking out four. It was the ninth time in 12 outings he had allowed three earned runs or less, but he still hasn't picked up a win since late May.

"Oly's been outstanding all season," Harper said. "I would have liked to have gotten him another run or two to get him the win. He did a great job in keeping us in the game."

Instead, Matt Wilhite (2-1) earned the win. He allowed just one run in two innings. The run was only his second surrendered in his last six outings.

Olenberger allowed two hits and a run in the first inning, but the Beavers managed just one hit over the next four innings before they tied the score on an RBI single by Brian Myrow to score Vincent Sinisi, who doubled.

Salt Lake scored its two runs in the second inning on RBI singles by Brandon Wood and Mike Eylward.

Iztruis, who is on a rehab assignment, Budde and Eylward all had two hits for the Bees, who finished with 11 for the game. Myrow led Portland with three hits.

Game 3 of the four-game set is tonight at 7 p.m. at Franklin Covey Field, while the series-finale, which will be televised on KJZZ, is Sunday at 2 p.m.

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E-mail: jhinton@desnews.com