Salt Lake Bees: Brown comes back to haunt old team

SALT LAKE CITY — Matt Brown had plenty of success at Spring Mobile Ballpark during the 2007 to 2009 seasons as a member of the Salt Lake Bees. He was even a PCL All-Star for the Bees during the 2008 campaign.

Brown, in fact, is the last batter to have hit for the cycle in a Bees uniform.

Brown had another big game at Spring Mobile on Thursday night, but this time it was for the Oklahoma City RedHawks. Brown ripped three extra-base hits — with two triples and double — and scored three runs in leading Oklahoma City to a 12-8 victory, cooling off the red-hot Bees just a bit.

"I hit those triples, and I'm not used to this high altitude anymore and I almost passed out," said Brown. "It's hard to breathe here."

Despite the loss, Salt Lake remains just 31/2 games behind the PCL Pacific North Division-leading Tacoma Rainiers, who lost in Iowa on Thursday. Salt Lake has won 10 of their last 14 games, including Thursday night's loss.

Salt Lake actually got off to a strong start, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single by Paul McAnulty.

But Oklahoma City took control of the game in the second and third innings by scoring 10 runs and chasing Salt Lake starter Amalio Diaz early. Brown doubled in the second and tripled in the third and scored in both innings, while teammates Hernan Iribarren and Brandon Boggs each hit two-run home runs.

Brown, who left the Angels organization to sign with the Texas Rangers during the offseason, has now hit safely in 19 of his last 20 games dating back to July 18, and his batting average is up to .308 for the season. He has been happy with his decision to join the Rangers but was frustrated earlier this year when he missed nearly two months with an injury.

"Before I got hurt, I got hot there for awhile and hitting for some power, and there is a chance I would have been called up (to the Rangers)," said Brown. "But since I've been back, I've been swinging it well and that's all I can do. I'm just trying to help this team win."

Salt Lake chipped away at the Oklahoma City lead throughout the night but could never catch the RedHawks. Bees center fielder Terry Evans had a big night offensively — driving in four runs — but it wasn't enough.

Former Cyprus High and College of Eastern Utah star Willie Eyre relieved RedHawks starter Doug Mathis in the fourth inning. Eyre gave up runs on three hits and three walks in 11?3 innings.