Bees Fall to Isotopes After Rain Delay

SALT LAKE CITY (April 7, 2018) - After an hour and 39-minute rain delay slowed down the action in the bottom of the second, the Salt Lake Bees' opening home stand continued against the Albuquerque Isotopes with a 9-4 loss Saturday night at Smith's Ballpark.

Salt Lake briefly held a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning, but soon surrendered the advantage when the Isotopes knotted it up 2-2 in the sixth. With the score tied 2-2 in the seventh, Albuquerque's Raimel Tapia blasted his first of two homers to give the Isotopes a 4-2 lead. The Isotopes would continue to build a large lead by scoring in bunches in the final few innings to take a 9-2 lead going into the final at-bats. The Bees then tacked on a couple in the bottom of the ninth to decrease the margin of victory.
The Bees' effort was highlighted by David Fletcher, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI and made several slick defensive plays from shortstop. Catcher Juan Graterol was the lone Bee with multiple hits as he went 2-for-4 at the plate. Scott McGough (1-0) was credited with the win on the mound. Jason Alexander (0-1) took the loss for Bees after giving up three runs in four innings of relief. Neither starter would factor into the decision after being forced out of the game by the second inning rainstorm.
The series with Albuquerque will continue Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. at Smith's Ballpark. The Isotopes' Sam Howard is slated to start against the Bees, who have yet to determine their starter.