Nate was unbelievable tonight, that’s probably the best I’ve seen him thrown. He’s got one more start and hopefully he can carry that kind of performance over to next year. – Bees outfielder Gary Brown
SALT LAKE CITY — Playing errorless baseball, with perhaps their most unique starting lineup of the season, the Salt Lake Bees cruised to a 10-1 win over the Tacoma Rainiers on Tuesday.
For Bees starter Nate Smith, hitter-friendly Smith’s Ballpark had not been his best friend. Smith, 2-3 since being called up, had a 3.97 ERA on the road and a 10.97 ERA at home. But on Tuesday, Smith pitched six complete innings, giving up just three hits and striking out five to pick up his second win of the season and first in his home ballpark.
“Nate was unbelievable tonight, that’s probably the best I’ve seen him throw,” Bees outfielder Gary Brown said. “He’s got one more start and hopefully he can carry that kind of performance over to next year.”
Smith looked right at home Tuesday night, striking out Rainiers leadoff hitter James Jones, before settling into a groove. Smith struck out four Rainier batters through three innings and didn’t allow a hit until Patrick Brady slapped a single to center with one out in the third.
Smith got some help in the Bees' half of the second as Roger Kieschnick and Stephen McGee launched back-to-back solo shots. For McGee, recently called up from High-A Inland Empire, the homer was his first in Triple-A and gave the Bees a 2-0 lead.
Tacoma was able to put a run on the board in the fourth inning after Matt Zunino doubled off Smith. Rainier right fielder Jabari Blash then doubled to right center to drive in Zunino and pull the Rainiers within a run at 2-1.
The Bees, playing with Brown at second, Kyle Kubitza at first and Kieschnick in right, flashed some leather all night and kept themselves out of big innings with three double plays.
For Brown, it was the first time he has played infield since college.
“It was a late lineup chance and everyone was kind of thrown off, but we just went with it,” Brown said. “I don’t think I’ve been this excited for a game in a long time. That first one I was really nervous so I was just happy to make a play.”
Smith got some breathing room in the bottom of the sixth as McGee drove in Kubitza and Alex Yarbrough drove in Kieschnick for a 4-1 Bees lead midway through the seventh inning. The Bees' bats just kept delivering, with Salt Lake scoring three runs in the seventh and three more in the eighth. Kieschnick and McGee both picked up their third hits of the night in the seventh.
Smith gave way to reliever Kurt Spomer, who pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth after which Ryan Verdugo pitched a scoreless ninth.
Kieschnick back-to-back
Roger Kieschnick and Steven McGee hit back-to-back homers on Tuesday night. The Bees have gone back to back three times this season with Kieschnick having a hand in both of them.
Kyle Kubitza streaking:
When Kyle Kubitza lined a two-out bloop single to center Tuesday, it marked the 37th straight game in which the Bee infielder reached base. Kubitza’s streak is the longest in the PCL and is the second longest of 2015, trailing only Fresno’s Domingo Santana who reached base in 41 consecutive games from May 5 to July 19.