Brown powers Bees past River Cats

Matt Brown went 4-for-6 with a pair of home runs and four RBIs on Wednesday as the Salt Lake Bees outslugged the defending champion Sacramento River Cats, 13-10, in the opener of their best-of-3 Pacific Coast League playoff series.

Brown, who won a bronze medal with Team USA at the Beijing Olympics, smacked a solo shot in the first inning, going back-to-back with Freddy Sandoval. He ripped an RBI single in the third, singled again in the fourth and launched a two-run blast in the fifth.

Sandoval collected three hits and three RBIs, finishing a triple shy of the cycle.

Seeking their fourth PCL title in six years, the River Cats built a 3-2 lead before the Bees erupted for five runs in the third. Terry Evans keyed the rally with a two-run single, one of Salt Lake's 19 hits.

Nick Green (1-0) picked up the win, despite allowing seven runs -- five earned -- on nine hits over five innings. He fanned three and walked one.

Jason Bulger struck out two over the final 1 1/3 innings for the save, walking one and striking out two.

Jeff Baisley tried to keep pace with Brown, going 4-for-4 with two homers and four RBIs, for Sacramento. Travis Buck drove in two runs and Brooks Conrad contributed a solo shot.

Brad Knox (0-1) surrendered seven runs on 11 hits and a walk without a strikeout in 2 1/3 innings to take the loss. Box score.

In other PCL action:

Iowa Cubs 10, Oklahoma RedHawks 3
Jason Dubois' two-run homer sparked an eight-run sixth inning as the Cubs pounded the RedHawks in Game 1 of their first-round series. Luis Figueroa went 4-for-4, while Dubois and Bobby Scales had three hits apiece for Iowa. Box score