In front 9,856 spectators at Smith’s Ballpark on Tuesday night, the Salt Lake Bees beat the Albuquerque Isotopes 3-2 in a close contest.
Todd Cunningham went 1 for 3, his lone hit coming in the form of a three-run home run that ended up being the difference in the close ballgame.
On his difference-making home run, Cunningham said he “was just trying not to hit into a double play.”
Cunningham has now hit safely in nine of his last 10 games and is four of seven in the current series vs. Albuquerque. This season, Cunningham has had the Isotopes’ number, batting .325 with five doubles. Three of Cunningham’s six total home runs in 2016 have come against the Isotopes.
Tuesday night was KSL and Deseret News “Read Today” night at the ballpark. There were 4,000 kids, who each read for 20 minutes a day for 48 days, who earned tickets to Tuesday night’s Bees-Isotopes game. Gov. Gary Herbert, attending in support of the program, threw out the first pitch to Salt Lake manager Keith Johnson — a strike. The 4,000 elementary school kids screamed with every ball hit off of the bat, and danced and waved foam fingers during every break in the action.
In the top of the fifth inning, Rafael Ynoa hit a double off Tyler DeLoach to the warning track in center field, bringing home Tom Murphy and Dustin Garneau to give Albuquerque a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Cunningham launched a three-run home run to left field, scoring Sherman Johnson and Cal Towey, putting Salt Lake up 3-2.
There are now seven games left in the 2016 season. The Bees are currently in last place in the Pacific Coast League Pacific Southern Division, so their season will end on Monday, Sept. 5, as only the four PCL division champions compete in the playoffs.
Cunningham crushing: On Tuesday, Cunningham extended his current hit streak to six, tying his season-high hit streak. Cunningham has been especially good at Smith’s Ballpark this season, where he has batted .359 with eight doubles, one triple, two home runs and 21 RBIs in 43 home games. On the road, Cunningham is hitting just .233 in 48 away games. Cunningham has a .390 on-base percentage this season, fifth in the Pacific Coast League.