Things started off well for the Salt Lake Bees, who were going for their third win in as many nights. It sure didn't finish that way, though, with the Bees losing in a lopsided game, 9-2, to the Portland Beavers in front of 9,023 fans at Franklin Covey Field Saturday.

After completing a rare 7-5-2 double play in the top of the first, Salt Lake scored two runs, off Brandon Wood's RBI double and an unearned run on a groundout in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-0 lead.

Things only got worse from there, however.

Bees starting pitcher Henry Bonilla got roughed up for eight runs and 10 hits in only 4 1/3 innings. It was the most runs Bonilla has given up all season. Michael Johnson belted a three-run homer to left for the Beavers, his second of the season, to give Portland a 3-2 lead in the second.

They never looked back.

After Johnson doubled in another run in the fourth, the Beavers exploded in the fifth with four runs on a Craig Stansberry two-run shot and a two-run single by Oscar Robles. Josh Howard added another run in the sixth, on Bees' third-baseman Brandon Wood's error.

"They swung the bats pretty well," said Bees manager Brian Harper. "We made a couple mistakes, and they made us pay."

The Beavers' pitching staff seemed to baffle the Salt Lake hitters, too. They allowed no runs after the first inning.

"Good pitching makes you look flat," said Harper.

The Bees' pitching staff entered the game having given up 64 home runs on the season, which tied New Orleans for the league lead. Harper wasn't as worried about the pitching as much as the hitting, though.

"I'm not concerned at all with the pitching," said Harper. "I'm concerned a little bit about our hitting."

Harper's concerns seem warranted considering the Bees entered the night with the second-lowest home-run total in the league, with 39.

The pitching staff also struggled with control, giving up five walks, which is unusual considering they lead the Pacific Coast League in fewest walks allowed. They had issued no walks the night before. The Bees committed three errors as well, after not having any miscues the previous four games.

Now the Bees will try to bounce back quickly, with a day game today.

"It seems like, at times, we've played better after we've had a rough game," said Harper.

BEELINES: Portland improved to 19-0 when leading after seven innings ... Salt Lake will play its second televised game today on KJZZ at 2 p.m.

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E-mail: nstorey@desnews.com