SALT LAKE CITY — The Bees erupted for 21 hits Monday night, including eight doubles, in one of their finest offensive performances of the season, and defeated the Memphis Redbirds 14-3.
Todd Cunningham led the way for Salt Lake, going 4 for 5 with two doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored.
He ignited the Bees' offensive explosion with a leadoff single to start the game. Cunningham then scored the first run of the game off of a double hit by Jefry Marte. The Bees plated four more runs in the first to take a 5-0 lead.
Cunningham was a part of a second Bees charge in the third inning. Quintin Berry drove in two runs with a single and was followed by back-to-back-to-back doubles, the last hit by Cunningham. He then scored again off a Marte hit, this one a single, to give the Bees a 10-0 advantage. At the end of the third, the Bees held a commanding 11-0 lead.
Cunningham finished his night with two more hits, including another double in the fourth to score Berry and stretch the Bees' lead to 12 runs.
Ramon Ramirez pitched the final three innings to pick up the save, the 14th of the season for the Salt Lake bullpen.
DEUCES APLENTY: The Bees exploded for eight doubles Monday night, a new season high. Their previous season high was five doubles, once against El Paso and another time versus Reno. Cunningham led the way with his two doubles. Kaleb Cowart hit his 13th double of the season, which ties him with Nick Buss for the team lead.
WELCOME TIM (MAYBE): The Angels signed free agent and two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum to a deal last Friday. Lincecum has since agreed to a minor league assignment that Angels general manager Billy Eppler expects to last 20 to 30 days. Lincecum was added to the Bees active roster on Sunday but is not currently with the team. He spent Monday at the Angels' spring training complex in Tempe, Arizona, and threw a simulated game to help the team determine where he will start his minor league run. It isn’t anticipated that Lincecum will join the Bees until they begin their first 12-game road trip of the season next week in Tacoma, Washington.
NEWCOMERS: Lincecum isn’t the only new face on the Bees' roster. Since they were last in Salt Lake, the Bees have added LHP David Huff, C Anthony Bemboom, LF Ji-Man Choi, 2B Ryan Jackson and RHP Geoff Broussard, as well as welcomed back RHP Javy Guerra and 1B Marte from the Angels. Choi, a native of Incheon, South Korea, has played quite well since joining the Bees, hitting in all five games he has played. He was 3 for 5 with a double Monday night.
********
BEELINES
Bees — 14
Redbirds — 3
In short: The Bees battered the Redbirds' pitching staff to the tune of 14 runs on 21 hits.
Record: 24-18
Up next: Memphis RHP Jeremy Hefner (2-2, 3.50) at Salt Lake RHP Kyle McGowin (1-1, 3.12), Tuesday, 6:35 p.m.
Email: twood@bonneville.com