Salt Lake Bees: Reno rallies in the 9th for victory

RENO, Nev. — Ed Rogers delivered the winning run with an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to give the Reno Aces a 7-6 decision over the Salt Lake Bees on Thursday night.

Hank Conger tied the game for the Bees with a two out solo homer in the top of the ninth, but Sean Coughlin led off the bottom of the inning with a double off of Bobby Cassevah (0-1). After Coughlin was bunted over to third, Cassevah intentionally walked the next two batters to load the bases.

Salt Lake manager Bobby Mitchell brought an outfielder in to set up five men on the infield and two in the outfield. Rogers hit a sinking liner to left that was trapped by Peter Bourjos, whose throw to the plate skipped by Conger to allow Coughlin to score the winning run.

Conger led the Bees with a pair of home runs and three runs batted in, while Freddy Sandoval added three hits, including a triple, with two RBI. Bourjos and Cory Aldridge each had a pair of hits, as Aldridge now has a seven-game hitting streak and Bourjos has a six-gamer. The Bees close out their season opening road trip with a 3-5 record.

Bees home opener today

The Bees return to Spring Mobile Ballpark to host the Tacoma Rainiers today at 6:35 p.m. in the team's 2010 home-opener.

It will be the Bees' 17th home-opener in franchise history, and they have won seven of the last nine openers at Spring Mobile Ballpark/Franklin Covey Field. Scheduled to start on the mound for Salt Lake is right-hander Tommy Mendoza, a 22-year-old top pitching prospect in the Angels' organization.