SALT LAKE CITY — With Andrew Romine on assignment with the Los Angeles Angels, and Doug Deeds still rehabbing a right ankle sprain, Salt Lake manager Keith Johnson has given Trevor Crowe the reins at the leadoff spot.
That decision has paid off thus far, as the Bees improved their record to 5-2 with Crowe at the top of the batting order after Friday night's 6-5 victory over New Orleans.
Crowe signed with the Angels as a free agent on July 17, and is excited for the chance to be a member of the Angels/Bees organizations.
"It's been awesome so far. I'm very fortunate to come into a situation with a great group of guys," said Crowe. "KJ is definitely a player's manager. All he asks that you go out and you're prepared and you play hard every day, so I couldn't be more thankful to be in a good situation."
The outfielder wasn't hesitant to accept the leadoff role that had been vacated, and has previous experience at the MLB level to back him up.
"My first real opportunity in the big leagues came at the leadoff spot, so I'm comfortable there and I think it's a good spot for me right now," said Crowe.
"As a player, all you can really ask for is an opportunity to be able to play everyday and get consistent at bats. I'm just thankful to be having that right now."
Waiting for a call-up to the Halos might seem like a stretch, given the crop of talent with the Angels' active roster, but that doesn't stop Crowe from going out every night and doing what needs to be done to better his game.
"For me I've learned there is a business side of baseball and then there's an actual playing side of baseball, and the whole getting called up is more on the business side," explained Crowe. "The less focus you have on that business side, and the more you have on playing, the more likely things go in your favor."
Hopefully things will continue to progress for Crowe and the Bees as a whole, while the season slides into the final stretch before playoffs.
"For me, I just want to get a little bit better every single day," said Crowe. "I figure if I take one step in the right direction every single day, at the end of the year I'm going to be exactly where I want to be."
NOTEBOOK: Efren Navarro continued to prove he is the best player in the PCL with a pair of doubles to give him 30 on the season. Navarro finished the night 2-for-4 with a run scored. Luiz Jimenez finished the night 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, a run scored and the game tying home run to left field in the bottom of the eighth inning.
ATTENDANCE: On a cool and mellow Friday night a crowd of 7,418 baseball fans made it out to Spring Mobile Ballpark to cheer on the Bees.
BEELINES
Bees 6, Zephyrs 5
In short: A Luke Montz home run opened a three-run inning for New Orleans. The Bees were able to scrap together three runs through seven innings, until Luis Jimenez tied the game in the eighth with a two-run homer down the left-field line. Three batters later, Robinzon Diaz put Salt Lake ahead with a solo home run.
Record: 56-58
Up next: vs. New Orleans, tonight, 7:05 p.m. Zephyrs RHP Elih Villanueva (8-5, 3.72 ERA) vs. Bees RHP Greg Smith (6-8, 4.13 ERA).
Next homestand: Sunday-Wednesday vs. Oklahoma City (Astros).
BEELINES
Bees 6, Zephyrs 5
In short: A Luke Montz home run opened a three-run inning for New Orleans. The Bees were able to scrap together three runs through seven innings, until Luis Jimenez tied the game in the eighth with a two-run homer down the left-field line. Three batters later, Robinzon Diaz put Salt Lake ahead with a solo home run.
Record: 56-58
Up next: vs. New Orleans, tonight, 7:05 p.m. Zephyrs RHP Elih Villanueva (8-5, 3.72 ERA) vs. Bees RHP Greg Smith (6-8, 4.13 ERA).
Next homestand: Sunday-Wednesday vs. Oklahoma City (Astros).
email: cjohnson@desnews.com