Four Salt Lake pitchers combined to throw a three hitter on Thursday night, as the Bees downed the Sacramento River Cats 5-2 for their sixth consecutive win. Starter Alex Blackford (1-0) went five and one-third innings and allowed just two runs on three hits with six strikeouts and three walks. Jose Valdez retired all five batters he faced, Brooks Pounders worked a three up, three down eighth and Kirby Yates tossed a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save of the season.
Eric Young, Jr. gave the Bees a 2-0 lead in the third with his second home run of the season. Salt Lake manufactured a run in the fifth, as Sherman Johnson walked, stole second, moved to third on a sacrifice by Young and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kaleb Cowart. With the score 3-2 going into the ninth, Dustin Ackley and Shane Robinson gave the Bees some breathing room, as they each delivered run scoring singles. Young had two hits tonight for his sixth straight multiple hit game. Robinson added three hits and one run batted in, while Cowart chipped in with two hits and one RBI.