COLORADO SPRINGS — Jay Payton belted a first-inning three-run homer to put Colorado Springs in front to stay, as the Sky Sox rolled to a 7-2 win over Salt Lake Bees.
The first two batters singled off Salt Lake starter Matt Palmer before Payton drilled a 3-2 pitch over the center field fence to give the Sky Sox the early lead. After trailing 4-0, Salt Lake scored two runs in the fifth to cut the deficit in half, but that was as close as they would get as Colorado Springs broke the game open with three runs in the eighth.
Palmer (2-3) was charged with the loss, as he allowed four runs on six hits with four strikeouts and four walks. Alexi Amarista, Terry Evans and Luis Figueroa each had two hits to lead the Bees as they suffer their ninth loss in their last eleven games.