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So far this season, Salt Lake hasn't hit for power or displayed enough discipline at the plate to coax walks. The Bees rank last in the PCL in both categories.

Not being able to draw walks isn't a good sign for a team that has to manufacture runs.

So much for statistics.

Sunday at Spring Mobile Ballpark, the Bees (21-23) took out Nashville 8-4 by playing some long ball. Gil Velazquez smacked a two-run shot as well as working a big bases-loaded walk in the seventh. Sounds (17-25) pitcher Frankie DeLa Cruz was tagged for all eight runs.

Chris Pettit followed Velazquez's base on balls by taking a hanging slider over the left-field wall for a grand slam that capped Salt Lake's five-run seventh inning, enough to break the team's three-game losing streak.

"I hadn't been doing the best job of hitting with runners in scoring position," Pettit said. "It was good to get it done. I try not to put that much pressure on myself."

Uncharacteristically, the Bees kicked the ball around a couple times, allowing two unearned runs to score in the second, nearly making a loser of Bear Bay, who pitched his third straight good game.

Prior to the seventh, Salt Lake also squandered several golden opportunities with runners in scoring position.

"It was finally putting together quality at-bats," Salt Lake manager Keith Johnson said. "Chris, like Gil, can put together some quality at-bats. Every once in a while they run into one."

Salt Lake had hit just 24 homers — 10 by Jeff Baisley — in 43 games coming into Sunday. The Bees added two to that amount. Velazquez doubled his season total to two. Pettit, known in the past for having occasional power, had been struggling but also came up with his second long ball.

"I told Gil I couldn't let him take the [home run] lead," said Pettit with a smile. —

Storylines Bees break out bats

R Salt Lake busts open Sunday's game with five runs in the seventh inning.

• Bees Chris Pettit and Gil Velazquez combine for seven RBIs, Pettit's on a grand slam.