Espy, Cats drop Bees

Nathan Espy went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs as visiting Sacramento snapped Salt Lake's nine-game winning streak with a 7-4 victory on Thursday.

The River Cats (37-37) rallied for a 5-4 lead with four runs in the fifth inning. With one out, John Baker, who finished with three hits and two runs scored, doubled and came home on Espy's RBI double. Espy crossed the plate when Scott McClain reached on a throwing error by shortstop Erick Aybar.

After Jeremy Brown grounded out, Keith Ginter collected an RBI double. Charles Thomas broke a 4-4 tie by singling in Ginter.

Three River Cats relievers kept the Bees (43-30) scoreless over the final 4 2/3 frames. Matt Roney (3-1) allowed one hit with two strikeouts and a walk in 2 1/3 innings. Randy Keisler retired four of the five batters he faced and Jason Karnuth pitched around a leadoff walk in the ninth to secure his 13th save.

Salt Lake starter Steven Shell (3-3) was charged with five runs -- two earned -- on 11 hits with four strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

Tommy Murphy collected a two-run double in the opening frame for the Bees. Jason Aspito chipped in with an RBI single in the fourth.

Salt Lake outscored its opponents, 76-42, during the winning streak. -- Eric Justic/MLB.com