LAS VEGAS — The Salt Lake Bees are looking forward to getting home. They begin the season's first home stand tonight after falling to Las Vegas 5-3 Thursday night to even their record at 4-4.
After a promising start, Salt Lake was unable to capitalize. The Bees scored three first-inning runs as Reggie Willits led off the game with a double, Brian Specht then singled and Howie Kendrick doubled to knock in Willits. Specht scored on a sacrifice-fly from Dallas McPherson, and Kendrick scored on a Mike Napoli ground-out RBI. That would be the end of the offense for Salt Lake.
The 51s got the majority of their offense on the home run. A two out rally in the bottom of the second wiped out the Bees good start. Oscar Robles doubled and later scored on a single from Russell Martin, and the big shot came from the bat of Wilson Valdez as he hit a two-run homer to even the score.
Las Vegas got another run in the bottom of the fifth when Willy Aybar hit a solo-home run, and it added an insurance run in the eighth on Martin's second RBI when he grounded out. Aaron Sele, down on a minor league assignment, picked up the win for Las Vegas going six innings. He gave up three runs, six hits and struck out five. The win moves the 51s to 7-1. Jered Weaver got his first loss on the year as he pitched five innings, gave up four runs and nine hits.