Salt Lake Bees grab bizarre win over Isotopes

SALT LAKE CITY — Francisco Rodriguez was not credited with a save out of the bullpen for the Salt Lake Bees against the Albuquerque Isotopes on Monday night at Spring Mobile Ballpark.

But make no mistake about it, Rodriguez saved the crazy 6-5 win for the Bees with a single pitch in the sixth inning.

Rodriguez entered the game with the Bees up by just one run with one out and the bases loaded. He got Albuquerque's Chin-Lung Hu to ground into a double play on his first pitch to end the inning.

Rodriguez went on to pitch two more scoreless innings as well.

"It was not a stat situation, but it's very important," said Rodriguez of the setup role for relievers. "When you help your team by making a good hold and when you stop the bleeding and give your teammates a chance to get a comeback, it's important. If I don't get stats, it doesn't matter. My teammates recognize it."

The Bees actually allowed Albuquerque to score the game-tying run in the top of the ninth off of Rafael Rodriguez, Salt Lake's third pitcher of the game.

But the contest ended with a bizarre play in Salt Lake's half of the ninth, as Albuquerque pitcher Brent Leach committed a throwing error trying to pick off Bees base runner Mark Trumbo at first. His errant throw allowed Salt Lake pinch runner Peter Bourjos to score the winning run from third.

It was the third Bees victory in the past four games — all of which came on their final at-bat. Salt Lake scored the game-winning run with just one hit — a single by designated hitter Cory Aldridge — in the inning. That single, two walks and the error was all Salt Lake needed.

But the Isotopes could have built themselves a nice lead if not for the fine relief pitching by Francisco Rodriguez earlier in the game.

"He was outstanding. He really threw well," said Bees manager Bobby Mitchell. "He kept us in the game in a tough situation. It was good to see, because that kind of stuff will get you to the big leagues in a hurry."

Salt Lake got off to a fast start in the bottom of the first, scoring three runs off Albuquerque starter Josh Lindblom. Aldridge had an RBI double, and Trumbo drove in a pair with a single to stake the Bees to a 3-0 advantage.

The Isotopes took the lead in the third inning with a four-run, two-out rally off Salt Lake starter Will Smith.

But the Bees regained the lead in the fourth when Aldridge hit a two-run single, giving the Bees a 5-4 lead which held until the ninth.

BEES WAX: Today's series finale will be the team's annual morning game with thousands of elementary school students attending on a field trip. First pitch is set for 10:35 a.m. ... Through the first 37 games of the year, the Bees have just 20 homers. That's the fewest in the Pacific Coast League.

e-mail: lojo@desnews.com