On a hot sunny Sunday at Smith’s Ballpark, the Salt Lake Bees committed three errors — two by Kaleb Cowart — that led to four unearned runs in an 11-4 loss to the Omaha Storm Chasers.
Two rough innings for Bees starting pitcher Nate Smith were too much to overcome as Omaha took game two of a four-game series with Salt Lake.
“Obviously (Kaleb) Cowart playing shortstop is something that is new for him,” Bees manager Dave Anderson said. “He’s only played a few games there so he’s getting some work.”
Bees fans in attendance saw two players from the parent club as Collin Cowgill played DH and Matt Joyce played left field in his first start for the Bees in a rehab assignment.
The Storm Chasers pushed an unearned run across in the first but the Bees answered right back.
Center fielder Gary Brown led off with a booming double to left. Brown advanced to third, alertly drawing a throwing error from Omaha’s left fielder, who hesitated just enough as Brown rounded second. Joyce then singled to left to score Brown and tie the game at 1-1.
Bees pitcher Smith, still looking for his first AAA win in three starts, allowed five runs, four earned, in a sloppy third inning when the Storm Chasers took the lead 6-1.
“The game turned into one winning where we gave up the five runs,” Anderson said. “We made some mistakes and they took advantage of it.”
Salt Lake responded with a pair of runs in the top of the third. After loading the bases, Joyce had a 410-foot drive that stayed in the park, but drove in a run. Efren Navarro’s sacrifice fly closed the lead to 6-3.
Omaha added a pair of unearned runs in the fourth to make it 8-3.
Cowgill led off the top of the fifth with a solo shot to left that got out of Smith’s Ballpark in a hurry to cut the lead at 8-4.
But the Storm Chasers finally chased Smith after 5 2/3 innings. Smith allowed a two-run homer as Omaha extended the lead to 10-4. Smith finished giving up ten runs, six earned, off 13 hits.
“I thought Smith did a nice job, still kept throwing strikes and getting ground balls. They found holes and we just didn’t make plays,” Anderson said.
The same two teams meet Monday (7:30 p.m.) at Smith’s Ballpark.
Needing some relief pitching, the Angels called up Cam Bedrosian and Mike Morin. Shortstop Ryan Jackson also got called up to the parent club.
Anaheim pitcher Matt Shoemaker, who won 16 games last year for the Angels, is being sent down to the Bees for his next start.