Victory keeps Salt Lake Bees' slim playoff hopes from fading

SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake Bees did what they needed to do on Sunday afternoon to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. They beat the Reno Aces, 6-3, at Spring Mobile Ballpark.

But then it was time to wait — and cheer for the Fresno Grizzlies.

It wouldn't be known until late Sunday night if Monday's Bees season finale would be meaningful or not.

Tacoma entered Sunday's action with a "magic number" of one for winning the Pacific North Division title. Any single win by the Rainiers or loss by the Bees would mean Tacoma would earn the division crown. The Rainiers had a late game at Fresno on Sunday.

"We knew going in that we had to take care of business on our end and then whatever happens, happens," said Bees veteran outfielder Nick Gorneault. "We are going to battle to the end and we've shown our character here at the end of the season."

The Bees will complete the regular season today with a 2 p.m. matinee against the Aces.

Gorneault — who first played for Salt Lake when the team was still nicknamed the Stingers — came up big in Sunday's win. Gorneault pounded a two-run double in the third inning and added an RBI single in the seventh to give Salt Lake some additional breathing room.

"That was a big hit by Nick Gorneault to put us up by three (in the seventh inning) against their lefty," said Mitchell. "That put us up three runs and that made it easier and more relaxing for the pitchers."

Amalio Diaz gave up three runs in six innings to earn his fifth win of the season for the Bees. A trio of pitchers — Fernando Rodriguez, Ysmael Carmona and Bobby Cassevah — each pitched an inning of scoreless relief to put the game away for the home team.

The victory was the sixth in seven games during Salt Lake's current home stand as the Bees have made up ground on Tacoma. Even if his troops don't make it to the postseason, Mitchell is proud of the way they've played down the stretch.

"They have kept their energy up," said Mitchell. "They are tired, but they continue to put in the effort and everybody has been cheering for their teammates. It's been a great team in that way all year."

The Bees will start Eric Junge (5-2, 5.52 ERA) in today's game against Reno's Cesar Valdez (5-10, 6.12).

BEES WAX:Mark Trumbo leads the PCL in home runs (36), runs batted in (122), total bases (307) and runs scored (102) and is tied for the league lead in extra base hits with Albquerque's John Lindsey (70). ... Attendance on Sunday was 5,677. The Bees are now over the 500,000-fan mark for the season and will finish the year fifth in the 16-team PCL in attendance, averaging nearly 7,300 fans per game.

e-mail: lojo@desnews.com