The Bees (18-32/57-67) rode their momentum from their first series win of the second half, going all-in and cashing out as the victors not only in this week’s series, but season series against the Reno Aces (23-27/55-70). Salt Lake won three of the first four games in South Jordan, tallying double-digit runs in all three victories. Sunday’s contest was canceled in the bottom of the fourth inning due to consistent rain that created unsafe field conditions; by virtue of Mother Nature, the Bees took home their second consecutive series win ahead of a season-long 12-game road trip.
Series recap
The Bees continued their hot hitting on Tuesday and Wednesday as seven extra-base hits paced the hosts to a 17-4 series-opening win, while Raudi Rodriguez’s two-triple night surged the offense to a dozen runs in a 12-1 victory in the second game. Across both nights, Salt Lake scored 29 runs on 29 hits, with 12 of those hits going for extra bases.
Salt Lake’s winning streak was snapped on Thursday evening, falling 8-5 on First Responders Night. All 13 runs were scored between the fourth and fifth innings, with Reno’s six-run fourth serving as the difference maker. Five hits from Kyren Paris marked a new career high and provided the horsepower for the Bees’ 11-1 Friday night victory. The Bees’ offense was humming once again on College Football Night, scoring early and often in the win.
Fairy tales and tiaras took over The Ballpark on Saturday with Princess Night. Salt Lake nearly got enough pixie dust to win, tying the game in the eighth on back-to-back homers. Following a 19-minute rain delay, Reno put together a ninth-inning rally that ultimately gave them the storybook ending of a 6-5 win. Rain delayed the start to Sunday’s contest, pushing the first pitch back 30 minutes. The game reached the bottom of the fourth inning, but with consistent rain and unplayable field conditions, the umpiring crew canceled the game. The result provided Salt Lake with a series win (3-2) and represented the first cancellation in the short history of The Ballpark at America First Square.
Prospect watch
Nelson Rada, who turns 21 today, kept his consistency going in four games played against the Aces this series. The Double-A gold glover was gifted the Angels Double-A team’s Rocket City’s gold glove bobblehead of the outfielder prior to a game in the series and finished the set batting 5-for-15 (.333) with his first homer since May 29 in Round Rock coming in the third game of the set. Rada had five runs scored, three RBIs, four walks and three strikeouts while stealing a base. He has 60 swipes on the season as he holds the active roster team high. Rada did not commit an error in his games played in the outfield in the series and he has not made one since Aug. 13 in El Paso.
Around the bases
The penultimate homestand of the season was highlighted by giveaways. Fans took home a Mike Trout bobblehead on Tuesday, a Swiggy Pennant on Dirty Sodas Wednesday, a honey princess bobblehead and tiara dual giveaway on Saturday night, and a pair of Abejas socks on Sunday’s finale. Saturday’s contest featured the fourth largest crowd in ballpark history (7,816) who were treated to the final postgame drone show of the year.
What’s on deck
Salt Lake embarks on a season-long 12-game road trip visiting the Pacific Northwest and California’s Central Valley. The Bees take on the Tacoma Rainiers (Triple-A, Seattle Mariners) in the first series of the trip, starting a six-game set on Tuesday at 8:05 p.m. MDT from inside Cheney Stadium. Then, they’ll visit the Sacramento River Cats (Triple-A, San Francisco Giants) for a six-game series before returning home for the final homestand of the 2026 campaign.
