SACRAMENTO — Howie Kendrick homered and drove in two runs to lead the Salt Lake Bees to a 4-2 win over the Sacramento River Cats on Tuesday night.
Kendrick, who was playing in the final game of his rehab assignment, put the Bees ahead in the first with a solo homer off Esteban Loaiza, who was making a rehab start for the River Cats.
In the third, Terry Evans doubled with two out and scored on a single by Kendrick, who stole second and came home on a double by Mike Eylward.
Joe Saunders (2-3) earned the win, as he allowed just two runs on five hits in six innings with a season-high nine strikeouts.
Three Salt Lake relievers combined to throw three scoreless innings.
Jason Bulger struck out all three batters he faced in the seventh, Alex Serrano got three ground ball outs in the eighth and Marcus Gwyn fanned Kevin Melillo with runners at second and third to end the game and record his fourth save of the season, his second in as many nights for the former River Cats pitcher.