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| Kila Ka'aihue's ninth inning home run moved him into fifth place on the franchise's all-time list (File photo: Lee Warren) |
Joaquin Arias opened the decisive inning with a walk, but was thrown out at second base on Jarrod Dyson’s attempted sacrifice bunt. Irving Falu, who was 4-for-4, was hit by a pitch and the runners then pulled off a double steal. In a 5-5 game against a drawn-in infield, Dyson scored the go-ahead run on a Lorenzo Cain ground out before Clint Robinson’s single pushed Falu across with an insurance run. Ka’aihue followed with his long ball, the 62nd of his career with Omaha to move him into fifth place on the franchise’s all-time list, to sew up the victory.
Salt Lake responded with one run in the bottom of the ninth before Kelvin Herrera, who once again hit 100 mph on the stadium radar gun, closed the door to earn his first win at the Triple-A level. Omaha improved to 12-2, including seven straight victories, when needing a win to earn a series split.
The visitors posted the first run of the game with on an Arias ground out in the second inning and added to their lead in the third when Falu led off with a triple and scored on a Robinson fly ball.
The Bees tallied a run in the fourth on a Jeff Baisley run-producing ground out and scored three times in the fifth to take the lead. Jeremy Moore doubled in a run and then scored from second base, along with Efren Navarro from third, on a Freddy Sandoval sacrifice fly.
Salt Lake starter Matt Palmer was lifted with two runners on and one out in the seventh and replaced by Matt Meyer, who was brought in to turn the switch-hitting Falu around to a right-handed hitter. However, the strategy backfired when Falu delivered a two-run triple and scored on Cain’s sacrifice fly to put the visitors back on top, 5-4.
Mike Montgomery, Omaha’s starting pitcher, was taken out after six innings. He allowed four runs on five hits while walking three and fanning four. For the second straight game, he commanded his curve ball well – something that has been an issue throughout the season. Willy Lebron took over and yielded the game-tying homer to Moore in the bottom of the seventh.
Luis Mendoza takes the hill for Omaha Tuesday night and will be opposed by Tacoma left-hander Anthony Vasquez in the opener of a four-game series at Cheyney Stadium.
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Manny Pina left the game, favoring one of his knees. Cody Clark replaced him. Manager Mike Jirschele continues to work with an extremely then line up. Clark was the only player who really was available on the bench. David Lough is nursing a sore hamstring.
