Salt Lake Bees: River Cats use long ball to tie series

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Salt Lake manager Bobby Mitchell, before his team's current PCL Pacific Conference playoff series started, said the Bees' goal was to split the first two games in Sacramento in the best-of-five series.

Despite losing 8-3 on Thursday night against the River Cats at Raley Field, Mitchell got his previously wanted split.

Then again, after Wednesday's Game 1 victory, the Bees were hoping for an even more successful road trip.

"We want to be greedy," Mitchell said just prior to Thursday's Game 2. "If we win this game, we will put a lot of pressure on them."

Instead, the River Cats used the long ball to even the series at 1-1. Sacramento hit four homers by four different players accounting for all five runs against Salt Lake starting pitcher Anthony Ortega. Later, Brooks Conrad ripped a two-run shot, his second of the game, for Sacramento.

For Ortega, it was his first loss of the year in a Bees uniform after going 5-0 during the regular season.

Salt Lake, meanwhile, couldn't get it going against Oakland A's starting pitcher Sean Gallagher, who was making a rehab start for the River Cats. He pitched five shutout innings, giving up just three hits to earn the victory.

Despite the loss, the Bees still have an advantage in that all three remaining games, assuming it goes the distance, will be in the friendly confines of Franklin Covey Field. Game 3 is set for tonight at 7 p.m. The fourth game, which is now a certainty, will be Saturday night. Game 5, if necessary, will be on Sunday afternoon.

The Bees won the opener in a slugfest, 13-10, but they knew the defending PCL champs wouldn't go down without a fight.

"It's the playoffs and we know all the games will be hard fought with high intensity," said Bees first baseman Matt Brown. "That's what makes it fun. It's what playing this game is all about."

Brown is used to playoff-style pressure, having led the Team USA with 10 RBIs en route to a bronze medal during the recently completed Olympics. Getting back into the swing of things for the Bees hasn't been easy, however.

"I'm finally over the jet lag," said Brown, Salt Lake's lone triple-A All-Star this season of returning from Beijing. "It took about a week, but I'm feeling pretty good now."

Brown showed how good he feels on Wednesday night when he pounded four hits — including two homers — to lead the Bees to the victory. Brown was much quieter on Thursday, finishing 0-for-3 with a walk.

Chris Walker, Salt Lake's No. 9 hitter, ripped a two-run double in the seventh and then scored on a single by Brad Coon. But that was after the River Cats already had a 5-0 advantage. It proved to be too little, too late.