PCL baseball: Bees' pitchers pave way for victory

SALT LAKE CITY — In contrast to recent games at Spring Mobile Park, where hitting has taken the spotlight, Salt Lake got a great pitching performance Thursday night by Matt Palmer, who gave up one run in six innings as the Bees downed the Fresno Grizzlies 3-1.

However, Palmer didn't get the win, as Fresno starting pitcher Matt Yourkin also turned in a gem for six innings.

The first two innings saw nothing but goose eggs on the scoreboard.

But in the third inning, both teams made a little noise. The Grizzlies got a single and a double from their first two batters. But Bees catcher Ryan Budde picked off the runner at third base and the next batter struck out. The top of the Fresno order came up in the person of Eugenio Velez, who grounded out on a nice play by Bees second baseman Alexi Amarista.

The Bees struck for a run in their half of the third when Tyson Auer bunted his way on base. He stole second and, with two out, Keven Frandsen lifted a high fly ball to right field that just stayed in the park, crashing off the wall for a run-scoring double.

"We sent Auer to second," Salt Lake manager Bobby Mitchell said. "We were a little lucky because their catcher (who juggled the pitch and did not make a throw) has a great arm."

Fresno tied the game in the fifth inning on an infield single.

After Palmer's sterling performance, Salt Lake reliever Gabe DeHoyos came in and tamed the Grizzlies in the seventh inning. Barret Browning and Bobby Cassevah finished up for the Bees.

"We got really good pitching tonight," said Mitchell, who complimented Cassevah. "Everyone is contributing right now."

In the home half of the seventh, the Bees scraped together two runs off of two walks, a single, a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch. That proved to be the margin of victory.

The Bees raised their overall record to 71-69 with the win.

"We have been pretty much around the .500 mark all year," Mitchell said. "But it took four wins in a row this week to keep the team's pennant hopes alive. "We haven't won four in a row since '08." Palmer was pleased with his pitching performance

"My fastball was working early," Palmer said, "then I went to my curve, and the changeup was working at the end."

The Bees host Reno tonight at 7 p.m.