Bees rally to defeat Rainiers

TACOMA, Wash. — The Salt Lake Bees rallied from an early deficit to defeat the Tacoma Rainiers 9-5 on Friday night and even the series at one game apiece.

Tacoma scored three runs in the first inning against Salt Lake starter Giancarlo Alvarado, but the Bees chipped away and took the lead in the fifth. Matt Brown and Bobby Wilson singled to open the inning and Brown scored on a double by Adam Pavkovich. One out later with runners at second and third, Chris Walker hit a grounder to Rainiers' second baseman Oswaldo Navarro and his poor throw to the plate allowed two runs to score.

Kasey Olenberger (4-4) tossed three innings of scoreless relief for the win, while Jason Bulger did not allow a run and struck out four in just 1 2/3 innings for his ninth save. Four Salt Lake pitchers combined to strike out a season high 14 Tacoma batters.

Of the nine runs scored by the Bees, only two of them were driven in by a hit. Bobby Wilson drove in three runs with a ground out, a sacrifice fly and a bases-loaded hit-by-a-pitch.

Matt Brown added two RBIs with a fielder's choice and a bases-loaded walk. Pavkovich chipped in two hits with a double and a triple and one run batted in. The teams play again today at 8 p.m.