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Kaleb Cowart went 3-for-4 with four RBIs Friday night, leading Salt Lake to a 6-4 Pacific Coast League victory over Sacramento. In front of 9,311 fans at Smith's Ballpark, the Bees pounded out 10 hits and won their second straight game.
Turning Point • Sacramento starter Clayton Blackburn committed errors on back-to-back chances during a three-run fifth inning, when Salt Lake took a 5-3 lead. Blackburn threw away a potential inning-ending double play grounder by Jefry Marte before flipping wildly to the plate on a bunt by Nick Buss.
Bees' MVP • Cowart gave the Bees a 1-0 lead with a two-out single in the first. He made it 2-0 with a two-out single in the third. He added a two-run single in the fifth. Cowart is now 4-for-7 with five RBIs this season.
Hidden Hero • After surrounding three runs in the fourth inning, Salt Lake starting pitcher Yunesky Maya retired six straight batters to prevent the River Cats from extending their lead and giving the Bees a chance to rally.
Flashing Leather • In the top of the first, Sacramento's Ryan Lollis' hard ground ball seemed headed for right field. But Marte, Salt Lake's first baseman, came up with the ball and flipped to Maya for the out.
Quoteworthy • Cowart, on playing 34 games with the parent Los Angeles Angels last season: "It was good. I gained a lot. It put into perspective how good those guys are and how good you have to be every day."
Angel Angle • After the Angels called up pitcher Nick Tropeano on Thursday, the Bees activated left-hander Neal Cotts. He split time last season with Milwaukee and Minnesota. In 51 games with the Brewers, he went 1-0 with a 3.26 earned run average.
History Lesson • Sacramento infielder Grant Green spent the last three years in the Angels' organization. During that time, he appeared in 147 games with the Bees. In the River Cats' second straight loss, Green went 2-for-4 and scored a run.
What's Next
Sacramento (Chris Stratton, 0-0) vs. Salt Lake (TBA), Saturday, 6:35 p.m.
PCL Standings
American North W L Pct. GB
Colorado Springs (Brewers) 1 1 .500
Oklahoma City (Dodgers) 1 1 .500
Omaha (Royals) 1 1 .500
Iowa (Cubs) 0 2 .000 1
American South W L Pct. GB
Round Rock (Rangers) 2 0 1.000
Memphis (Cardinals) 1 1 .500 1
Nashville (Athletics) 1 1 .500 1
New Orleans (Marlins) 1 1 .500 1
Pacific North W L Pct. GB
Reno (Diamondbacks) 1 0 1.000
Tacoma (Mariners) 1 0 1.000
Fresno (Astros) 0 1 .000 1
Sacramento (Giants) 0 2 .000 1½
Pacific South W L Pct. GB
Salt Lake (Angels) 2 0 1.000
Las Vegas (Mets) 1 0 1.000 ½
Albuquerque (Rockies) 0 1 .000 1½
El Paso (Padres) 0 1 .000 1½
Friday's games
Nashville 2, Oklahoma City 1, 11 innings
Omaha 6, New Orleans 5
Memphis 2, Colorado Springs 1
Round Rock 4, Iowa 3
Salt Lake 6, Sacramento 4
El Paso at Reno, late
Albuquerque at Tacoma, late
Fresno at Las Vegas, late
Saturday's games
New Orleans at Omaha, 3:05 p.m.
Round Rock at Iowa, 6:08 p.m.
Colorado Springs at Memphis, 7:35 p.m.
Oklahoma City at Nashville, 7:35 p.m.
Albuquerque at Tacoma, 8:05 p.m.
Sacramento at Salt Lake, 8:35 p.m.
El Paso at Reno, 9:35 p.m.
Fresno at Las Vegas, 10:05 p.m.