Salt Lake Bees earn first-ever consecutive shutouts

TACOMA, Wash. — Four Salt Lake pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout and Drew Heid hit his first Triple-A home run, as the Bees blanked the Tacoma Rainiers 2-0 on Friday night.

Tacoma starter Erasmo Ramirez had a no-hitter working with two outs in the eighth inning when Doug Deeds hit a groundball into short center field that second baseman Scott Savastano stopped, but did not have a play on, for an infield hit. On the very next pitch, Heid drilled one over the right field wall to give the Bees the lead — and all the runs they needed on this night.

Bees' starter David Pauley did not allow a hit until Luis Rodriguez singled to right with two outs in the sixth. He went six innings and struck out three and walked two. Kevin Johnson (1-2) gave up two hits, but no runs in the seventh and earned his first Triple-A win. Francisco Rodriguez retired Tacoma in order in the eighth and Ryan Brasier worked a 1-2-3 ninth to record his seventh save.

This marks the first time in the 19-year history of the franchise that Salt Lake has thrown back-to-back shutouts, as they won 3-0 on Thursday.

Beelines

Record: 32-30

Up next: at Tacoma, 8 p.m. Saturday

Next homestand: Monday-June 17 vs. Tacoma (Mariners)

Fresno (Giants)