SALT LAKE CITY — Peter Bourjos had quite a night at Spring Mobile Ballpark. Not only did the speedy centerfielder hit a tie-breaking three-run homer in the seventh inning, he also stole three bases in lifting the Salt Lake Bees to a 9-6 win over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox.
"I'm glad that we were able to stay in it and come back and win," Bourjos said.
Salt Lake's first victory after two losses in the series, however, involved a team effort. Teammate Mark Trumbo homered twice and had an RBI double, while Nick Gorneault contributed a pair of run-producing hits.
"Everybody came out swinging the bat well," said Bees manager Bobby Mitchell, whose squad finished with 14 hits.
The connections fueled a fast finish.
Things, though, started off with a slow statistical script of sorts. The Bees fell into an early hole against southpaw pitcher Josh Muecke. They entered the game with a 2-14 record against left-handed starters this season.
Backed by a four-run first inning by his teammates, Muecke managed to protect the early advantage. The Sky Sox held a 6-3 lead by the time he was relieved after four complete innings.
Colorado Springs used three consecutive run-scoring singles to take a 4-0 lead in the first. Jay Payton and Chris Nelson each drove in a score before Omar Quintanilla knocked in a pair.
Salt Lake responded an inning later when Trumbo led off with a homer to left field and Gorneault later added an RBI double.
The Sky Sox, however, matched the output in the top of the third on a two-run blast by Brad Eldred.
Trailing 6-2, the Bees swarmed back into contention over the third, fifth and sixth innings. The comeback featured an RBI double from Trumbo and a run-scoring single by Gorneault.
Salt Lake pulled even in the sixth when Bourjos stole two bases and scored on a throwing error and Trumbo hit his second homer.
The series concludes tonight at 7:05. Salt Lake LHP Will Smith (1-3, 6.51 ERA) and Colorado Springs LHP Kurt Birkins (2-3, 9.00 ERA) are the scheduled starters.
BEES WAX: The attendance was 6,087. ... Trumbo has now reached base safely in 15 consecutive games at Spring Mobile Ballpark ... The Sky Sox, who entered the game with a league-low 36 errors, had three miscues.
e-mail: dirk@desnews.com