SALT LAKE CITY – The Salt Lake Bees celebrate the Salt Lake Trappers by wearing throwback uniforms when they host the Reno Aces on Saturday night.

The Trappers were a Pioneer League minor league baseball team that played at Derks Field in Salt Lake City from 1985-92 before moving north and rebranding as what you now know as the Ogden Raptors.

Saturday is Trappers Night at Smith’s Ballpark! reak out those leg warmers and celebrate the anniversary of the Trappers Streak in the location they used to play! And, be sure to stay for fireworks! Get your tickets now at https://t.co/kQPx4ncf6z or on the Smith’s Ballpark App pic.twitter.com/1b6pD6kHNa

— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) June 22, 2022

With Bill Murray (yes, that Bill Murray) on board as a minority owner, the Trappers took the Pioneer League by storm in 1987, earning national recognition thanks to a 29-game win streak.

Along with throwback uniforms to mark the occasion, former Trappers general manager Steve Pearson & assistant GM Dave Baggott will throw out the first pitch. There will be a Q&A session with Trappers personnel following Saturday night’s game.

Bees Struggling

Salt Lake comes in to this weekend’s action losers of three straight and 11 of their past 12. The Bees are 5-16 in June after entering the month with a 27-22 record.

Salt Lake’s hot pitching to begin the season has fallen back to earth and an offensively challenged Bees lineup has been unable to keep up with their opponents.

After averaging 6.7 runs per game in May, the bats have gone silent.

The Bees have scored more than five runs in a game just seven times in June, winning three times.

Four RBI in two games for Jose Rojas! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/IrPY8gtyeX

— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) June 22, 2022

Across the board Salt Lake has seen their offensive production fall off. The team batting average fell from .272 in May to .251 in June. On-base percentage has fallen by more than 30 points. Home runs have also fallen from 32 bombs in May to 24 long balls in June, second worst in the PCL ahead of only Round Rock’s 22 homers.

More concerning for Salt Lake is that their team BABIP (batting average on balls in play) is a respectable .314 but they are still struggling mightily to score runs.

An injury to leading hitter Michael Stefanic hasn’t helped matters.

Nor has a call-up for David MacKinnon, the PCL’s Player of the Month in May. MacKinnon was hitting .375 with three home runs and a team leading 10 RBI in June before making his Major League debut with the Los Angeles Angels on June 18.

The first big league hit for David MacKinnon!#GoHalos pic.twitter.com/Hq23JAckUL

— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) June 23, 2022

Another of the Bees more productive hitters in 2022, outfielder Dillon Thomas, was recently designated for assignment by the Angels and subsequently claimed by the Houston Astros.

Game Day

Salt Lake tries to right the ship tonight against Reno with right-hander César Valdez on the mound. Valdez has a a 5-3 record with a 3.12 ERA this season. Valdez face Reno back on April 22 when he went  tossed a complete-game, allowing five hits and two runs with eight strikeouts in a 5-3 Bees win. He lost his last appearance, allowing four runs in six innings in a 4-0 loss to Albuquerque on June 18.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. (MST).

Following tonight’s game the Bees will host a fireworks show at Smith’s Ballpark. Kids will have the opportunity to run the bases as well following tonight’s game. Fans can purchase tickets for any Bees game at slbees.com and you can listen to all Salt Lake Bees games live on the Zone Sports Network.

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