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Cracking his bat in two was just the start for Ryan LaMarre as the Salt Lake Bees took a 5-4 win over Fresno on Sunday.
LaMarre, culminating a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth, scored the winning run when Grizzlies' pitcher Reymin Guduan balked. At third at the time, LaMarre scored in the first walk-off balk in Bees' history.
Guduan was in trouble from the time he walked Shane Robinson to start the inning. With runners at first and second, LaMarre muscled a single into center — breaking his bat in the process — to score Robinson.
A throwing error by Guduan, trying to pick off LaMarre at first, led to Dustin Ackley scoring the tying run. Ackley had walked with one out in the frame.
"I was kind of joking with K.J. (Salt Lake manager Keith Johnson) about doing a straight steal of home plate," said LaMarre while stationed at third following a wild pitch by Guduan.
"He said, 'nah, nah, nah, let's let Rey (Navarro) hit, but I don't mind if you take a couple of hard steps.' I took a couple of hard steps (to home)," LaMarre said. "He took a step toward home, but then he held on to the ball and then ran to me. Honestly, I didn't know what happened, but I thought it looked kinda funny."
Salt Lake, after falling behind 3-0, got a couple runs in the sixth to pave the way for the final comeback. In that rally, Tony Sanchez doubled to left just before Sherman Johnson blasted a triple to right-centerfield. Johnson then scored on a Robinson single to cut the lead to 3-2.
Hidden Hero • Salt Lake reliever Keynan Middleton gave up one hit in the sixth, before working out of that with two grounders to first, and then got a couple of strikeouts in setting down the Grizz in order in the seventh — keeping the Bees within striking range.
Flashing Leather • Fresno's two-run fifth made the score 3-0, but it could have been worse. After singling to start the frame, the Grizzlies' Juan Centeno tried to steal second but was thrown out by Bees' catcher Tony Sanchez.
Quoteworthy • "He made some good pitches. I thought I got a good swing on it. He got in on my hands a little bit, but luckily it's Easter so it fell," LaMarre on his broken-bat single in the ninth.
What's next •The Bees conclude their three-game set with the Grizzlies with a 6:35 p.m. home game Monday. —
PCL Standings
American North W L Pct. GB
Okla. City (Dodgers) 22 10 .688 —
Omaha (Royals) 17 14 .548 4½
Iowa (Cubs) 15 17 .469 7
Colo. Springs (Brewers) 12 20 .375 10
American South W L Pct. GB
Round Rock (Rangers) 19 12 .613 —
New Orleans (Marlins) 16 14 .533 2½
Nashville (Athletics) 13 19 .406 6½
Memphis (Cardinals) 12 20 .375 7½
Pacific North W L Pct. GB
Fresno (Astros) 17 15 .531 —
Sacramento (Giants) 17 15 .531 —
Reno (Diamondbacks) 14 18 .438 3
Tacoma (Mariners) 14 19 .424 3½
Pacific South W L Pct. GB
Las Vegas (Mets) 22 10 .688 —
El Paso (Padres) 19 13 .594 3
Salt Lake (Angels) 13 19 .406 9
Albuquerque (Rockies) 13 20 .394 9½
Tuesday's Games
New Orleans 5, Oklahoma City 0
Nashville 6, Iowa 3
Omaha at Round Rock, 8:05 p.m.
Fresno 6, Albuquerque 4
Colorado Springs 10, Memphis 3
Salt Lake 4, Tacoma 3
El Paso at Reno, late
Sacramento at Las Vegas, late
Wednesday's Games
Oklahoma City at New Orleans, 10 a.m.
Omaha at Round Rock, 10:35 a.m.
Memphis at Colo. Springs, 11:05 a.m.
Nashville at Iowa, 11:05 a.m.
Sacramento at Las Vegas, 11:35 a.m.
Fresno at Albuquerque, 6:35 p.m.
El Paso at Reno, 7:35 p.m.
Salt Lake at Tacoma, 8:05 p.m.