Salt Lake to Host Las Vegas Tuesday Night

SALT LAKE CITY (JUNE 23) - The Salt Lake Bees (28-43) welcome to town the Las Vegas 51s for a three-game series beginning Tuesday night at Smith's Ballpark. The Bees are 0-3 against the 51s (40-31) so far this season.

Tyler DeLoach (1-3) is scheduled to take the mound in Tuesday's series opener, having posted 5.53 earned run average in five starts for Salt Lake this season. He gave up three earned runs and dealt five strikeouts in five and one-third in his last outing at Last Vegas on June 17. Andrew Heaney (6-2), who leads the team in wins, will take the mound Wednesday, and Alex Sanabia (1-7) is expected to start the series finale on Thursday.

The Bees have been forced to adjust their lineup with many starters having gone on to play with the Los Angeles Angels in recent weeks. Daniel Robertson and Alfredo Marte were called-up most recently, but the Angels lineup consists of many Salt Lake hitters, including Carlos Perez, Kyle Kubitza and Efren Navarro.

Kaleb Cowart, first promoted to Triple-A on June 11, and C.J. Cron, who's on his second stint with the Bees this season, have received ample opportunity to help Salt Lake. Cowart is batting .303 with 10 hits, eight RBIs and a home run in 33 at-bats, while Cron continues to mash, hitting .328 with 12 RBIs and four home runs in 67 at-bats, entering Tuesday night on an eight-game hitting streak. Cowart and Gary Brown both batted over .400 in the previous meeting between Salt Lake and Las Vegas, combining for three extra-base hits, one home run, four RBIs and six runs in 25 total at-bats.

Las Vegas brings in a wealth of talent to the series, including Tuesday's starter Steven Matz (7-4), ranked the Mets' No. 2 Prospect on MLBpipeline.com. Matz has pitched seven or more innings in six of his 14 appearances, entering Tuesday with a 2.11 earned run average with 86 strikeouts in 85 and one-third innings. Opposing hitters are batting just .211 against the 6-foot 2-inch lefty. At the plate, the 51s feature Alex Castellanos, tied for second in the league in doubles (22) with Reno's Nick Evans, and Matt Reynolds, batting .280 with 21 doubles, 42 RBIs and nine stolen bases on the year.

As part of the series, the Bees are giving away Kole Calhoun bobbleheads to the first 2,000 fans in the series opener on Tuesday night. Tickets and additional information about the team is available at www.slbees.com.