Nate Smith
The Salt Lake Bees went 1-3 on the first leg of their 12 game road trip falling to the Tacoma Rainiers 3-2. The two teams took a two-two tie into the 10th inning when the Rainers Patrick Kivlehan hit a walk off home-run on the first pitch from Bees reliever A.J. Achier.
Bees starter Nate Smith had allowed only one hit through eight and one-third innings and led 2-0, but Tyler Smith doubled and Ketel Marte singled to put runners at first and third. Al Alburquerque came out of the Salt Lake bullpen and after Marte stole second, Chris Taylor drove in Tyler Smith with an infield single. Mike Zunino followed with a ground ball to Kaleb
Todd Cunningham – Photo Rob Gray
Cowart at third, who tried to start a game ending double play, but Sherman Johnson’s relay to first glanced off the glove of first baseman Kyle Kubitza to allow the tying run to score.
The Bees had taken a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a safety squeeze bunt by Todd Cunningham and extended it to 2-0 in the eighth on a two out RBI single by Cowart. Nate Smith went eight and one-third innings and allowed two runs on three hits with seven strikeouts and no walks. Cunningham and Cowart led Salt Lake with two hits and one run batted in each, as Tacoma takes the series three games to one.