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When spring training began, catcher Chris Snyder envisioned a season with the Washington Nationals.

It hasn't worked out that way.

Snyder was released by the Nats after eight Grapefruit League games, signed by the Los Angeles Angels on March 18 and is starting his 12th year of professional baseball in Salt Lake City.

On Thursday night at chilly Spring Mobile Ballpark, Snyder continued making the most of his Pacific Coast League assignment. He went 4 for 4, homered in his first two at-bats and finished with five RBIs as the Bees defeated Reno 6-4.

"It's definitely fun," Snyder said. "To have a night like that and come away with a win, there's nothing more you could ask for."

Snyder has played in 706 major-league games for three teams. He hit .176 in 76 games with the Houston Astros last season.

Asked if he's enjoying himself in Triple-A, Snyder said, "Hey, I'm playing ball. Any time I'm getting a chance to play baseball, I'm happy."

After Reno took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, the Bees countered with four runs in the bottom half of the inning.

The highlight was Snyder's three-run homer, which came on a 3-2 pitch and landed just inside the left-field foul pole.

"It was a changeup," Snyder said. "I'm just trying to put the ball in the air. [But] 'thank you' to the wind and the elevation; it was just enough."

Leading off the bottom of the fourth, Snyder did it again. He jumped on the first pitch and lined his third homer of the season. Salt Lake opened a 5-2 lead and held on to make a winner out of starting pitcher Billy Buckner.

"The guys are doing a pretty good job of playing the game for nine innings," said manager Keith Johnson said. "… Our hitters are taking advantage of mistakes and creating some offense." —

Storylines Bees 6, Aces 4

R Chris Snyder hits two homers and drives in five runs.

• Starting pitcher Billy Buckner works into the sixth and improves to 2-0.