SALT LAKE BEES
Bees Bats Go Silent Against Las Vegas In Doubleheader Sweep
SALT LAKE CITY – A leadoff double and a pair of errors in the final inning made it interesting, but the Bees come up short in a 3-1 loss to Las Vegas.
After losing game one of the Opening Day doubleheader, Bees starter Ryan Smith (0-0, 8.31 ERA) took the hill facing Grant Holmes (0-1, 15.43 ERA) for Las Vegas.
The Bees hosted the Aviators at Smith’s Ballpark on Wednesday, April 13.
Everyone ready for one more? pic.twitter.com/H57AkRaLoi
— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) April 14, 2022
Las Vegas didn’t waste any time jumping in front during the nightcap as Ryan Smith struggled with his control and an error at third base by Kean Wong allowed the Aviators to take a 2-0 first inning lead. After a pair of walks loaded the bases with only one out in the inning, Smith was able to limit the damage induced a sac-fly and a strikeout to end the inning.
Smith was able to settle down following the rough first inning, setting the Aces down in order in each of the next two innings. Smith threw 4.2 innings, allowing two hits while striking out four and walking three. Neither of the runs he surrendered were earned.
💨he's SAFE pic.twitter.com/4o371AfwXe
— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) April 14, 2022
With two down in the fifth inning and a runner on first, Bees manager Lou Marson called on Kalish to finish the inning. Kalish surrendered an RBI double to Christian Lopes that scored Nick Allen, putting Vegas in front 3-0.
Catcher Chad Wallach led off the bottom of the seventh with a double that found the right-centerfield gap. Following a Luis Rengifo strikeout and Dillon Thomas groundout, Orlando Martinez lifted a ball high into shallow right field. Three Aviators converged on the play but the ball skipped off the glove of rightfielder Christian Lopes, allowing Wallach to score and bringing the tying run to the plate. Shortstop Drew Jackson then booted a routine ground ball, allowing Martinez to advance to second and David MacKinnon to reach first. Representing the potential tying run, Magneuris Sierra grounded into the shift, ending the threat and the ball game.
Chester Pimentel (1-1) picked up his first win of the season and Smith took the loss for Salt Lake. Austin Pruitt finished the seventh for his first save of the season.
The Bees and Aviators are back it on Thursday evening at Smith’s Ballpark with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. (MDT). All Bees games are aired on 1280 The Zone.
