Salt Lake Bees win with youthful infield

SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake Bees players are one step away from playing for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but you wouldn't have believed it if you saw the team's starting infield on Sunday afternoon at Spring Mobile Ballpark.

One step away from the Orem Owlz seemed more likely.

Yet, despite having a trio of youngsters who really should be at the single-A level instead of triple-A playing at second, third and shortstop, the Bees held off the Reno Aces, 8-7.

"They all stepped up and did a great job," said Bees manager Bobby Mitchell about his young fill-in players. "I was impressed. They are not overwhelmed by playing at this level, that's for sure."

The Bees currently have eight players on the disabled list — including four infielders (third baseman Freddy Sandoval and middle infielders Gary Patchett, Nate Sutton and Hainley Statia). To take their spots, the parent Angels have promoted three players from single-A — or below.

But the trio of second baseman Carlos Colmenares, shortstop Darwin Perez and third baseman Jesus Campos came through for the Bees on Sunday. Batting in the seventh, eighth and ninth spots in the order, they combined to go 6-for-11 from the plate with three runs scored. All three had a pair of hits.

Campos, who was just drafted by the Angels a couple of weeks ago in the 24th round out of Cal State Los Angeles, made his Bees debut. He went 2-for-3 from the plate with a walk while playing strong defense.

"I thought it would take a while (to get to the triple-A level)," said Campos, who played only two games in the Arizona Summer League before being promoted to the Bees. "It's been amazing. I'm having the time of my life."

The fact remains that Campos, Colmenares and Perez will likely all be sent back to lower levels when the veteran Bees get healthy. Still, they want to make the most of their opportunities while they are in Bees uniforms.

"As long as I'm up here, I'm going to try to do the best I can do for this team," said Campos. "I want to contribute to this team and go all out as long as I'm up here."

Salt Lake had an 8-2 lead and seemed to be cruising to its third straight win, but the Aces battled back. A grand slam by Brandon Allen in the ninth inning off Bees reliever Bobby Cassevah pulled Reno to within one. Michael Kohn came in to put out the fire and earn his second save in as many games for Salt Lake, however.

The Bees improved to 39-38 with the victory and they now trail first-place Tacoma by just one game in the PCL Pacific North Division standings.

The third game of the four-game set against Reno will be tonight at 7. Salt Lake is scheduled to start Tim Kiely (0-2, 14.90 ERA) against Reno's Kevin Mulvey (3-5, 4.83 ERA).

BEES WAX: The Bees held a moment of silence prior to the National Anthem on Sunday in honor of Quinn Michael Falk. Falk was the pilot who died on Saturday afternoon in West Jordan when the one-passenger plane he was flying crashed during takeoff. The plane, owned by Aerial Ads, was used to fly a banner advertising Bees game times. ... Attendance on Sunday was 4,609.

e-mail: lojo@desnews.com