The Salt Lake Bees return to Spring Mobile Ballpark for the start of an eight-game homestand Friday night, when they face Las Vegas at 6:35 p.m.

Despite playing 28 of their first 48 games on the road and the call-up of highly regarded prospect Mike Trout by the Los Angeles Angels, the Bees find themselves battling for first place in the Pacific North Division of the PCL.

The pitching matchup for Game 1 of the series between the Bees and 51s looks like a good one.

Salt Lake manager Keith Johnson will start righthander Garrett Richards, who is 5-1 with a 3.93 earned run average.

Las Vegas counters with Andrew Carpenter, who is 1-0 with a 3.41 ERA.

Salt Lake has played Las Vegas eight times already this season, coming away with mixed results.

In April, the Bees won three times during a four-game series in Las Vegas ­— part of a blistering 14-6 start to the season.

Three weeks ago, however, the 51s turned things around. They visited Salt Lake and swept a four-game series while outscoring the Bees, 30-11.

After four games against the 51s, Salt Lake plays four more against Colorado Springs next week. The Sky Sox are the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.

In the first or second game of the series, the Bees could get a look at Sky Sox lefty Drew Pomeranz.

In his first two outings after being sent down by the Rockies, Pomeranz did not allow a run in 112⁄3 innings.

Pomeranz was one of the central figures in last year's multiplayer trade between Colorado and Cleveland that also involved All-Star right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez. —

Bees homestand

P Friday/Saturday • Bees vs. Las Vegas, 6:35 p.m.

Sunday • Bees vs. Las Vegas, 1:05 p.m.

Monday • Bees vs. Las Vegas, 6:35 p.m.

Tuesday • Bees vs. Colorado Springs, 6:35 p.m.

Wednesday • Bees vs. Colorado Springs, 12:05 p.m.

Thursday/June 1 • Bees vs. Colorado Springs, 6:35 p.m.