Big 5th boosts Salt Lake Bees to win

Salt Lake took the fifth and went on to silence a three-game skid Sunday night at Spring Mobile Ballpark.

The Bees scored three times in the pivotal inning en route to a 6-2 victory over the Tacoma Rainiers.

Terry Evans powered the outburst with a two-run triple and Brandon Wood drove in a score with a sacrifice fly as Salt Lake broke open a close game.

"It was nice to come up with a big hit," said Evans, who was originally supposed to bunt. "Especially since I didn't get the job done on the first pitch."

The Bees built a 2-0 lead over the third and fourth innings thanks to an RBI single from Sean Rodriguez and a solo homer by Ben Johnson.

Tacoma matched the latter in the top of the fifth, however, when Adam Moore sent one over the fence.

It was the lone run the Rainiers would score on Bees starter Brad Knox. The right-hander (5-4) went on to earn his first win since May 31.

"He threw strikes, kept the hitters off balance and mixed his pitches well," said Salt Lake manager Bobby Mitchell. "He did a really good job."

Before being relieved after seven complete innings, the Bees gave Knox a five-run advantage when Nate Sutton added an RBI single in the sixth.

"It's nice to finally get a win," Knox said. "... Tonight things went my way, our way. I was throwing everything for strikes and it worked out for the best."

Although Tacoma cut the deficit to 6-2 in the eighth on a run-scoring double by Adam Moore off of Salt Lake reliever Daniel Davidson, it failed to sway momentum.

In fact, it capped all scoring in the game — a day after a disappointing 12-inning loss to the Rainiers.

"I thought tonight that we executed better," Mitchell said. "We had better at-bats with men on base."

The win lifts Salt Lake's record to 43-41.

The series continues tonight at 7:05. Salt Lake RHP Brad Salmon (3-2, 4.36 ERA) and Tacoma RHP Doug Fister (4-1, 4.20 ERA) are the scheduled starters.

BEES WAX: The attendance was 6,637 ... Outfielder Reggie Willits and RHP Sean O'Sullivan swapped teams Sunday. Willits was called up to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, while O'Sullivan was sent down to Salt Lake ... Tacoma is the top affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.

E-mail: dfacer@desnews.com