Bees Bullets: Salt Lake Manages Split Against Strong Dodgers Team

SALT LAKE CITY – The Salt Lake Bees battled through a short-handed roster at times this week to salvage a series split against the Oklahoma City Dodgers.

The Bees hosted the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers for six games August 2-7.

Oklahoma City came into town with three players making major league rehab appearances. Position players Chris Taylor and Edwin Rios and starting pitcher Dustin May each showed why it’s just a matter of time before they are back with Los Angeles.

Game One: Bees 1 Dodgers 2

The Angels recalled Jose Rojas before this game and to make room for him on the 40-man roster, they designated first baseman David MacKinnon for assignment. In one fell swoop the Bees lost two of their most productive bats.

Under the circumstances, it wasn’t surprising to see Salt Lake’s offense sputter against the Dodgers.

Oklahoma City plated two runs in the second inning on a Tomás Telis and that’s all they would need.

Kean Wong scored the Bees only run on an RBI groundout from Monte Harrison

Diving stop by @JSMak11👏 pic.twitter.com/4kgvmQ6UKN

— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) August 3, 2022

• Six Bees relievers combined to throw six scoreless innings.
• Bees hitters struck out 15 times and went 0-8 with runners in scoring position.

Game Two: Bees 1 Dodgers 6

It was an LA Dodgers rehab show on Wednesday night as Dustin May started on the mound and Chris Taylor hit two home runs in the game.

May made his third rehab start, second with Oklahoma City, in his return to action after undergoing Tommy John surgery last June. His four inning appearance was his longest start of the year as he limited the Bees to two hits and a single run while striking out eight. Taylor went 3-4 with three RBI in his second rehab appearance since fracturing his foot in early July.

.@Dodgers we think he's good to go back up now. https://t.co/aSVJKxsFcf

— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) August 4, 2022

The only offense the Bees could muster came in the fourth inning. Matt Thaiss tripled off of the right field wall before scoring on a single from Chad Wallach.

• Monte Harrison left the game in the fourth inning after appearing to injure himself on a swing. He did not play again in the series.
• Adam Seminaris made his Salt Lake Bees debut, allowing three runs on five hits in four innings. Seminaris is playing for his third Angels affiliate this season after beginning the year in Tr-City before getting promoted to Double-A Rocket City in June.

Game Three: Bees 8 Dodgers 7

Salt Lake used a four run third inning on their way to scoring all eight of their runs in the opening three frames on Thursday night as they improved to 12-20 in one runs games.

Dillon Thomas (12) homered in his first at-bat after returning to the Bees earlier in the day.

Jake Gatewood (14) opened the third inning scoring with a team leading two-run blast that scored Thaiss. Kyle Kasser added an RBI double that scored Jake Palomaki. Michael Stefanic capped the scoring with a two-RBI double later in the inning.

.@Jake_Gatewood2 sends one out 445' and the Bees take the lead.💪🔥 pic.twitter.com/yyInIuX5hu

— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) August 5, 2022

• Ryan Smith allowed six hits and five earned runs in three innings. This was his second start since coming out of the bullpen for 13 outings spanning June & July. The performance saw his earned run average jump to 7.47.

Game Four: Bees 0 Dodgers 13

Oklahoma City jumped all over the Bees from the get-go, scoring four first inning runs, three more in the third inning and finishing by scoring a run in the final five innings.

All told, Oklahoma City finished with three home runs and seven extra-base hits.

Catcher Colby Fitch pitched the ninth inning in the blowout. He gave up two hits and a run while striking out out a batter.

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Colby Fitch finishes off the ninth inning with a strikeout!#ProCards pic.twitter.com/UprMV2ZEQL

— Louisville Baseball Alumni Report (@Lvillebsblalum) August 6, 2022

• Dillon Thomas, Chad Wallach and Kyle Kasser finished with two hits apiece as Salt Lake went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12 runners.
• Cristopher Molina made his third start for the Bees and was unable to find a groove. He surrendered four earned runs in the first inning, throwing more than 40 pitches. A depleted bullpen forced Molina to wear one tonight as he finished by allowing seven earned runs on seven hits while walking two and throwing a pair of wild pitches.

Game Five: Bees 4 Dodgers 3

Jake Gatewood decided he didn’t want to wait for fireworks, instead getting the show started early with a bottom of the ninth, walk-off solo home run that broke a 3-3 tie to end a game that was delayed nearly an hour because of heavy rain earlier in the afternoon.

Solo home runs accounted for every Salt Lake run as Matt Thaiss (9), Kyle Kasser (1) and Dillon Thomas (18) also homered.

JAKE GATEWOOD SENDS THAT BALL TO A WHOLE NEW WORLD!

BEES WIN! pic.twitter.com/WxQUpS8ADV

— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) August 7, 2022

Field level…

GOODNIGHT FROM @Jake_Gatewood2! #walkoff #gobees pic.twitter.com/BrTGjEhkwV

— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) August 7, 2022

• This was the Bees first walk-off home run since Colby Fitch hit a two-run bomb to beat Albuquerque earlier this year on May 20.

Handshakes and high fives all around!! Final- Bees 7 Albuquerque 5. SL wins it on a walkoff 2 run HR by Colby Fitch!!

— Steve Klauke (@slbeesradio) May 21, 2022

• The home run for Thaiss was the 50th of his Salt Lake Bees career.
• Elvis Peguero (4-0) pitched a scoreless ninth for the win. In 22 appearances this season, Peguero has inherited 15 base runners and has yet to one to score. He has allowed one hit and given up on walk in his last five appearances.

Game Six: Bees 12 Dodgers 1

Salt Lake scored early and often in the Sunday afternoon matinee, on their way to earning a series split with Oklahoma City.

Braxton Martinez picked up his first two runs batted in as a Bee with a second inning double down the left field line.

Tailing 3-0, Oklahoma City scored a fifth inning run but Salt Lake answered with six runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning to break the game open. Orlando Martinez supplied the big blow with a two-run shot to right that put the Bees in front 9-1.

Orlando Martinez sends out his first Triple-A home run as part of a 6-run inning for the Bees!🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/H4XjY3i0VE

— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) August 7, 2022

• 12 runs scored for the Bees is their highest scoring game since a 16-run outburst against Reno on July 27.
• Zack Weiss threw two scoreless innings in relief, striking out the side in the seventh. He struck out five of the seven batters he faced.
• Jose Marte struck out the side to close the game.

Jose Rojas Gets The Call

With their offense continuing to battle bouts of inconsistency, the Angels recalled infielder Jose Rojas on August 2.

In 62 games with the Bees in 2022, Rojas has a team leading 18 home runs and his 50 RBI equal Dillon Thomas’ total.

Rojas (57) sits fifth on the Bees all-time home runs list, two behind former Buzz first baseman Chad Rupp.

#Angels Transactions:
•Selected the contract of INF Jose Rojas
•Designated INF David MacKinnon for assignment

— Angels PR (@LAAngelsPR) August 2, 2022

David MacKinnon Claimed By Athletics

After being designated for assignment on August 2, MacKinnon was claimed by the Oakland Athletics on Friday. He hit .324 with 14 home runs and 45 RBI for Salt Lake, making his MLB debut in June.

David MacKinnon was claimed on waivers today by the Oakland Athletics.
DMack will definitely be missed here in Salt Lake. But, we wish him the best of luck with the Athletics! pic.twitter.com/uRBSA8brkD

— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) August 5, 2022

Roster Churn

Reinforcements are coming to manager Lou Marson and the Bees as catcher Anthony Mulrine and infielder Braxton Martinez were promoted from Rocket City.

Martinez hit .202 with nine home runs and 36 RBI in 74 games. Mulrine hit just .160 with a homer and 12 RBI in 45 games with the Trash Pandas.

#Angels Transactions:
•Appointed RHP Oliver Ortega as 27th man for the doubleheader
•Selected the contract of RHP Mike Mayers
•Transferred RHP Michael Lorenzen to the 60-day injured list
•Following last night’s game, RHP Janson Junk was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake

— Angels PR (@LAAngelsPR) August 6, 2022

#Angels transactions:

Claimed OF Steven Duggar off waivers from the Rangers.

Designated OF Dillon Thomas for assignment.

Returned RHP Oliver Ortega.

— Angels PR (@LAAngelsPR) August 7, 2022

Salt Lake added pitchers Luis Ledo and Robinson Pina to the bullpen over the weekend.

Ledo was 5-3 with a 4.00 earned run average in 29 appearances for Double-A Rocket City. Pina joins the Bees from High-A Tri City where he was 6-6 with a 3.31 earned run average in 18 games.

Congrats to Braxton Martinez, Anthony Mulrine, and Luis Ledo, who have all been promoted to Triple-A @SaltLakeBees!

Thank you for your contributions, fellas! pic.twitter.com/mxrrHTWBUv

— Rocket City Trash Pandas (@trashpandas) August 5, 2022

On Deck

The Bees continue their longest homestand of the season welcoming in the Sacramento River Cats, Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Game one is scheduled for a 6:35 p.m. (MST) first pitch on Tuesday, August 9.

Purchase tickets to see the Bees play at slbees.com. Listen to voice of the Bees Steve Klauke on KSLSports.com.

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