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Tacoma starter Adrian Sampson pitched six scoreless innings Monday night, leading the Rainers to a 3-1 victory over Salt Lake. In front of 5,591 fans at Smith's Ballpark, Sampson beat the Bees for the third time this season in a game delayed 75 minutes at the start by rain.
Turning Point • Tacoma scored all of its runs in the fourth. With two out, Tyler Smith singled off Salt Lake starter Chris Jones (3-6). Boog Powell singled him to third. They scored on Chris Taylor's triple to right. Stefano Romero followed with an RBI double to make it 3-0.
Bees MVP • Kaleb Cowart had two of Salt Lake's nine hits. He beat out a ground ball for an infield single in the sixth and dropped a double just inside the left field line in the eighth. Cowart is now 11-for-30 against the Rainers this season.
Hidden Hero • During a 65-minute rain delay before the game was suspended, Salt Lake pitcher Nick Tropeano entertained the handful of fans who remained in the ballpark by doing three watery head-first slides on the rain-covered tarp that was protecting the infield.
Flashing Leather • After designated hitter Daniel Nava led off the bottom of the first with a single, Andrelton Simmons hit a hard grounder to third. Tacoma's Luis Sardinas made a backhanded stop, however, and turned a possible RBI double into a double play.
Angel Angle • The Bees made 11 players transactions Monday, bringing their season total to 108. Most notably, Nava was sent to Salt Lake on a major league rehab assignment, outfielder Rafael Ortega was sent down by the Angels and Bees' infielder Kyle Kubitza was designated for assignment.
HISTORY LESSON • On June 13, 2002, the Salt Lake Stingers pounded out 25 base hits — including five by Rick Short — during a 10-4 win at Las Vegas.
What's next • Tacoma (Donn Roach, 4-4) vs. Salt Lake (Blayne Weller, 0-0), 7:05 p.m.