Skaggs Deals in Bees Loss

SALT LAKE CITY, UT (July 2, 2016) - The Salt Lake Bees lost their third straight against the Fresno Grizzlies on Saturday night by a score of 7 to 1 in front of a crowd of 13,151 at Smith's Ballpark. Tyler Skaggs returned to the Salt Lake mound tonight for the first time since April 20. The hard-throwing left-hander has been on the Disabled List since May 4 with biceps tendonitis. Skaggs scattered six hits over five innings of work, allowing just two runs. With six strikeouts tonight, Skaggs topped his season-high of five set on April 15 against the Sacramento River Cats. Skaggs missed all of the 2015 season to undergo Tommy John surgery after suffering a late-season UCL tear 2014. The lefty started 18 games for the Angels that year, posting a 4.30 ERA.

"I feel great," said Skaggs following his outing. "I've had a long time off to throw bullpens and work on mechanics and I feel like everything is starting to click."

Lucas Luetge replaced Skaggs in the top of the sixth inning and allowed two runs; one on an errant pickoff attempt and another on a wild pitch. Javy Guerra posted a scoreless seventh but was tagged for two runs on a Max Stassi two-RBI double in the eighth. Greg Mahle entered with one out in the eighth and allowed a RBI single by Tony Kept before escaping the inning with a strikeout. Jose Valdez tossed a perfect ninth inning and has allowed just two runs since joining the Bees on June 10.

The Salt Lake offense was outdone for the third night in a row, notching nine hits to Fresno's 13. Todd Cunningham and Cal Towey led the Bees offensively going a combined 4-for-7. Cunningham drove in Towey in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Salt Lake their only run of the evening. Fresno was led offensively by catcher Max Stassi who finished 2-for-4 with a homerun and three RBI. The Bees and Grizzlies will finish off the four game set tomorrow afternoon with the first pitch scheduled for 1:05 P.M.