Salt Lake Loses to El Paso in the Ninth

SALT LAKE CITY (JULY 6) - The Salt Lake Bees were unable to maintain a one-run lead entering the ninth, losing 5-3 to the El Paso Chihuahuas Monday night at Smith's Ballpark. Salt Lake took an early 2-0 lead through the first three innings off an RBI single from Kaleb Cowart that scored Rafael Lopez in the second and a solo shot from Roger Kieschnick that just cleared the right center-field fence in the third. El Paso then tied it up with a run in the fifth and sixth inning before Salt Lake retook the lead in the seventh on an RBI single by Kieschnick, who went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored. Kyle Kubtiza also roped his 27th double of the season, now tied for second in two-baggers in the Pacific Coast League.

"As a professional you go out there every day to win, you just keep moving forward," Kieschnick said. "We've had a tough stretch, but we are going to strap it on tomorrow and get after it."

Chris O'Grady pitched a perfect eighth inning before being pulled in the ninth after surrendering a leadoff hit to Jake Goebbert, who eventually came around to score. Jeremy McBryde (3-5) replaced him with the scored tied at three, but took the loss, allowing the winning run to cross the plate on a two-RBI triple to deep right-center by Benji Gonzalez, who was thrown out at home attempting an inside-the-park home run. Nick Tropeano (2-2) took a no-decision in his return to the Salt Lake starting rotation after a stint on the disabled list and was tagged for one run on one hit while walking three and striking out six over five innings. Cam Bedrosian allowed just one run on two hits over two innings in relief.