Salt Lake Bees: Tacoma too much for Bees to topple

TACOMA, Wash. — All nine Tacoma batters had at least one hit, as the Rainiers rolled to a 9-4 win over the Salt Lake Bees on Thursday night.

The game was tied 2-2 when Tug Hulett opened the bottom of the fifth with a home run to right field off Shane Loux. Later in the inning, Wladimir Balentien belted a three-run shot to give the Rainiers a four-run lead,

The Bees scored twice in the sixth on a run-scoring fielder's choice by Adam Pavkovich and a run-scoring single by Ryan Budde, but Tacoma put the game away with three runs in the eighth.

Loux (9-4) allowed a season-high three home runs, as he went 5 1/3 innings and gave up six runs on nine hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Freddy Sandoval led the Bees with three hits, including two doubles and one run scored.

FUTURE STAR: Pitcher Kevin Jepsen was named to the U.S. of the Futures Game being played during All-Star weekend next month at Yankee Stadium.