The sun was shining and the sky was blue on an Easter afternoon at Franklin Covey Field on Sunday. But that hardly meant it was an ideal day to play baseball.
A stiff wind blew dirt into players' eyes all game long and made every fly ball an adventure during the Portland Beavers' 7-4 victory over the Salt Lake Bees.
"It was tough conditions to play in with the strong wind," said Bees manager Brian Harper. "But it was the same conditions for both teams."
It was the first home loss of the season for the Bees, who had pounded the Beavers by a combined score of 21-2 in the first two games of the series. Salt Lake fell to 6-5 on the year, while Portland improved to 5-6.
In each of the first two games of the series the Bees got off to fast starts. This time it was Portland's turn. They scored three runs in the top of the first inning on a three-run homer by Beaver third baseman Justin Leone over the left field fence off of Salt Lake starter Joe Saunders. It was Leone's league-leading sixth homer already this season.
Saunders settled down and the Bees rallied with a run in the bottom of the first and two more in the second to knot the score 3-3.
But Portland took the lead for good in the top of the fifth with a two-out, two-run single by catcher Jason Hill.
Saunders, a top left-handed prospect for the parent Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, gave up five runs — all earned — on five hits and six walks in just 4- 2/3 innings.
"That's not a typical Joe Saunders game, but he made some adjustments and he battled," said Harper. "The next start, he'll be fine. He's a solid pitcher."
The Beavers added an insurance run in the sixth thanks to a wind-aided triple to right by Freddy Guzman. Salt Lake right fielder Nick Gorneault, who had earlier made a fine catch on a line drive, misjudged the ball and it went over his head to the fence.
"Every time the ball was in the air, it was just wait and see what happens," said Harper. "It was a tough day to play in the outfield because you didn't know what the ball would do because the wind was blowing so hard."
Salt Lake actually made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth. A pair of two-out singles by Erick Aybar and Reggie Willits brought the game-tying run to the plate in red-hot Howie Kendrick, who entered the game with a .455 batting average for the season. Kendrick, who had homered in each of the first two games of the series and already had a single and a double on Sunday, flew out to center and the game was over.
"If you could get the ball up into the wind in left field, the wind was helping, but we never really hit one to left field into the wind," said Harper.
The series will conclude tonight when RHP Dustin Moseley (2-0, 1.64 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for the Bees against Portland RHP Mike Thompson (1-0, 4.09).
BEES WAX: Kendrick, who played as the designated hitter rather than his usual second base on Sunday, has now hit safely in all 11 games . . . Dallas McPherson, normally the designated hitter or third baseman, started the game at first as Kendry Morales got the night off. "He's mostly a third baseman," said Harper. "But once in awhile we'll move him around over there (to first base)." . . . Portland ended a four-game losing streak . . . The Bees will continue their homestand Tuesday night when the Tucson Sidewinders will come to town for a four-game set . . . The attendance was 3,061.
E-mail: lojo@desnews.com