Bees' Thaiss ties career high with four hits

Matt Thaiss is quickly learning just how friendly the Pacific Coast League can be for hitters. 
The Angels' eighth-ranked prospect logged the fifth four-hit game of his career -- his first since joining Triple-A Salt Lake last month -- in the Bees' 6-5 loss to the Baby Cakes on Monday at Smith's Ballpark. 

The outburst pumped Thaiss' average to .338 since his promotion to Salt Lake from Double-A Mobile on May 22. The University of Virginia product sports a .338/.376/.600 slash line with four homers and 13 RBIs in Pacific Coast League play. Twelve of his 27 hits have gone for extra bases. 
The 2016 first-round pick worked himself into a hitter's count during his first at-bat of the game, taking a 3-1 offering from New Orleans starter Tyler Cloyd the other way for a single to left field. 
Gameday box score
In the third, Thaiss laced a 1-1 pitch from Cloyd to center for his first double of the game. Dustin Ackley's RBI single two batters later plated him.
Facing Baby Cakes left-hander Mike Kickham with two outs in the fifth, the 23-year-old slapped the first pitch he saw to the opposite field for a single. Jumping on the first pitch once more, this time against lefty José Quijada, Thaiss lined a double to right for his fourth hit of the game. 
Angels No. 11 prospect Jose Suarez, making his third Triple-A start, allowed three hits and three walks while striking out three over 4 2/3 scoreless innings. The left-hander threw 47 of his 82 pitches for strikes. 
Scott Van Slyke hit a two-run homer with New Orleans down to its final out to turn the tide.