There is truly no place like home. Salt Lake finishes 9-3 in their longest homestand of the year, taking their second straight series of the 12-game span, winning five of six over the Tacoma Rainiers (Triple-A, Seattle Mariners). The Bees (25-25) won the final four games of the six-game set, pushing their record back to an even .500 for the first time since April 17, 2025.
Series recap
Tuesdays have been kind to Salt Lake this year, as they took the series opener for a fourth straight series, 7-5 behind three RBIs from Donovan Walton. Shaun Anderson collected his first win with the Bees in game one with five strong innings of work. Tacoma won game two on Wednesday 13-1, as starter Casey Lawrence took a perfect game into the sixth inning. From that point on, the Bees were unstoppable.
The hosts rode quality starts from Brett Kerry and Sam Aldegheri to capture victory in games three and four, respectively. Kerry tossed six innings in Thursday’s 8-3 win, while the Italian tallied six innings of three run ball in a 9-3 decision on Friday. Aldegheri got plenty of run support courtesy of Denzer Guzman, the 22-year old notched his second professional multihomer game, launching two longballs on Friday. His first homer hit the inflatable Swig cup in right center field for the first time in 2026, unlocking free Swig for all those in attendance.
Then on Saturday, in front of a season-high 7,720 fans (the fourth best in ballpark history), the Bees collected their fifth walk-off of the season, winning 6-5 in 10 innings. The walk-off on Star Wars Night, provided by new acquisition Austin Wynns, secured the series victory and completed a late-inning comeback fueled by the large crowd. The long 12-game homestand concluded on Sunday, as Salt Lake outslugged Tacoma 12-8 in a three hour, 24-minute matinee that had a little bit of everything. Three lead changes, two ties, 27 combined hits, four total homers and a multihit game from five of the nine Bees starters.
The conclusion brought the team to .500 at 25-25 in 2026 and marked a fourth straight win. Salt Lake sits in fifth place in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and 4.5 games back of league leader Sacramento, with 24 games to go in the first half.
Prospect watch
The Los Angeles Angels’ top-ranked position player and No. 2 prospect overall, Nelson Rada, continued to struggle at the plate during Salt Lake’s series against Tacoma. The 20-year-old hit just .200 (4-for-20) with two doubles and two runs scored across five games. He struck out three times and failed to record a stolen base, an area that has been one of his best tools this season. Defensively, though, Rada remained sharp in center field. He played error-free baseball throughout the series and has not committed an error since May 6 in Oklahoma City. His range and ability to track down fly balls continue to separate him from other outfielders, flashing the defensive tools that have made him one of the Angels’ most highly regarded prospects.
The Los Angeles Angels’ fourth overall prospect and third-ranked pitching prospect, George Klassen, continued to search for answers during Wednesday’s Dirty Sodas Night start against Tacoma. The right-hander lasted just 1.2 innings, allowing five runs on four hits while walking three and striking out four. Klassen has now surrendered 20 earned runs across six starts since being reassigned from Los Angeles and has not looked like the dominant arm Salt Lake saw earlier this season. Despite the recent struggles, the electric stuff is still there, and the Bees will hope the 23-year-old can bounce back in his next outing.
The Los Angeles Angels’ seventh-rated prospect, Denzer Guzman, may have put together the kind of week that earns him a call-up to the big leagues. The infielder was one of the hottest bats in the PCL during Salt Lake’s series against Tacoma, looking completely in control every time he stepped into the batter’s box. His confidence and comfort at the plate stood out throughout the week. Guzman appeared in all six games and hit .444 (12-for-27) with four doubles, two home runs, seven RBIs, seven runs scored and a stolen base. Both home runs came during Friday’s game as part of his standout series. His individual performance this week makes him a likely candidate for the league’s player of the week honors. Defensively, Guzman continued to impress as well. He has not committed an error since May 9 in Oklahoma City and showed his versatility on the left side of the infield, making strong plays at both shortstop and third base. His arm strength and footwork were especially noticeable throughout the series.
Salt Lake has continued to rely on Aldegheri to provide length on the mound, and the Italian left-hander delivered again Friday night. Aldegheri tossed six innings, marking his fourth consecutive start of six innings or more. The southpaw allowed three runs on nine hits and four walks while striking out two. With the outing, Aldegheri reached the 30-strikeout mark on the season and earned his third win of the year.
Around the bases
The second series of the homestand had something new every night. Tuesday’s Soccer Night brought out members of the NWSL’s Utah Royals as well as U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer and former Real Salt Lake goalie Nick Rimando. The Dirty Sodas took the field on Wednesday for the fifth time this season, before Thursday’s Talent Show Night showcased the best of the surrounding community.
It was all about the East High Wildcats on Friday, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Disney’s High School Musical. Bart Johnson, who portrayed the role of coach Bolton in the franchise, was on hand as part of the festivities. The Force was strong with Salt Lake on Saturday, as Star Wars took over across the entire ballpark. Characters from the iconic films were present, while the night ended with the second drone show of the season and homestand, themed to the franchise. Finally, it was all about the dogs with Sunday’s Bark in the Park, as the series closed with the final home day game in 2026.
What’s on deck
The Bees head east to the Lone Star State, playing six games against the Round Rock Express (Triple-A, Texas Rangers). The weeklong series begins Tuesday at 5:35 p.m. MDT at Dell Diamond. Salt Lake will return home on Tuesday, June 2, in the start of a pivotal series against the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies — the Albuquerque Isotopes.