Cory Aldridge creates a pleasant homecoming for Salt Lake Bees

SALT LAKE CITY — After playing 10 road games in the previous eight days, getting back to the friendly confines of Spring Mobile Ballpark was a welcome relief for the tired, beat up Salt Lake Bees.

Left fielder Cory Aldridge made sure the Bees made the most of their homecoming, as he drove in three runs — including the game-winner — during Salt Lake's 6-5 victory over the Reno Aces on Saturday night.

"I think I strained my back," Aldridge joked in the post-game interview room loud enough to be heard by Bees manager Bobby Mitchell.

"From carrying us?" Mitchell responded.

Aldridge, who now has 52 runs batted in for the season, didn't really hurt his back. He has been a clutch hitter all season for the Bees. Still, the team was only able to go 3-7 on their recent road trip which included a pair of doubleheaders against division-leading Tacoma.

"It was a rough road trip," Mitchell admitted. "We're a little depleted (due to injuries), but the young kids have stepped up and we're hanging in there."

Aldridge, at 31, isn't one of those "young kids." He's a cagey veteran who hit a pair of doubles on Saturday night. The second one broke a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the seventh inning.

"I'm just trying to help the team out when I can," said Aldridge. "Get an RBI here or by playing defense or just by rooting the team on."

Said Mitchell, "He's been our RBI guy. Tonight was a perfect example of what he's done this year."

Salt Lake actually spotted the Aces a 3-run lead in the second inning. But a two-run double by Aldridge in the third and a run-scoring triple by Hank Conger followed by a sacrifice fly from Carlos Colmenares in the fourth gave the Bees a 4-3 lead.

Reno, once again, went ahead in the fifth with a pair of runs, but the Bees evened the game back up — at 5-5 — in their half of the fifth on a Paul-McAnulty single.

The second-game of the series is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m.

The Bees are scheduled to start Marco Albano (2-6, 6.79 ERA) against Reno's Bryan Augenstein (4-6, 5.89).

BEES WAX: Two Bees middle infielders have recently been put on the disabled list. Gary Patchett is out with a right groin strain and Nate Sutton is out with a lower back strain. Darwin Perez has been promoted to the Bees from class-A Rancho Cucamonga and Jesus Campos has been called up from the Arizona Summer League to take their spots. . . . Conger, the Bees' catcher, threw out three Aces trying to steal second base on Saturday night.

EMAIL:lojo@desnews.com