SALT LAKE CITY— It seemed as though it would just be a slightly bumpy ride for the Bees, but in fact turned out to be a 7-2 loss to visiting Nashville.
Kip Wells made his fourth start for Salt Lake Thursday night, and was having a fairly successful night through the first four innings. Having giving up just two runs in those innings, it seemed that Wells was poised to help Salt Lake start the series off on the right foot.
Things got very gloomy for Wells in the top of the fifth inning as Caleb Gindl smacked a two-run double into center field to put the Sounds up 5-0. Khris Davis followed Gindl with a two-run home run, and Bees manager Keith Johnson was forced to replace Wells with Jeremy Berg.
"(Wells) had got himself into some deep counts, and up to that point I think it was just a matter of them putting good wood on a couple balls that he didn't exactly put where he wanted them," said Johnson.
Andrew Romine gave the Bees their first run in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring from first base on a Brad Hawpe double to the center field wall. Scott Cousins would be the second and final player to score for the Bees in the ninth inning.
"We saw a lot of their pitchers, and I think we put together some good at-bats," said Romine. "We had one bad inning where things kind of snowballed. Other than that our guys played well and got some runners on."
BUCKNER, BRASIER SUMMONED: In search of some 'fresh arms' in the Los Angeles bullpen, the Angels brought Ryan Brasier and Billy Buckner up to the Major League club. Buckner was not on the Halos 40-man roster to start 2013, but has compiled a 4-2 record with a 4.56 ERA in eight starts for Salt Lake. Buckner will be the 21st pitcher the Angels have used this season. Brasier has already spent a week with the Angels this season, throwing two scoreless innings in his last appearance.
MADSON TO SLC: After two rehab outings in the California League, Ryan Madson will make a final rehab assignment in Salt Lake before joining the Los Angeles Angels. Madson was hoping to join the Halos by weeks end, but the Angels decided to play it safe. Boasting a 3.59 ERA, Madson has 491 Major League games under his belt.
BASE THEIF: Andrew Romine stole his fourth base of the season Thursday night, and now has 50 stolen bases in his Salt Lake career. Romine is currently in sole possession of sixth place in franchise history, and is now chasing fifth place Alfredo Amezaga and his 53 stolen bases.
ATTENDANCE: 10,048