This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A first-inning two-run home run by Carlos Perez got the Salt Lake Bees off on the right foot, and they collected a 6-5 win over the Iowa Cubs (14-18) in the first game of a four-game series at Smith's Ballpark on Thursday night.

The Bees (19-15) added runs in the second and fourth innings to lead by as many as six, but Iowa scored in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. Iowa pulled within one run by scoring three in the top of the ninth. Justin Miller pitched the final two-thirds of an inning to record his third save of the season. Bees second baseman Nolan Fontana went 2 for 3 with two runs scored.

Turning Point • The Bees led 3-0 going into the fourth inning, but they tacked on three runs in that inning to provide a six-run lead for their pitching staff to work with for the final five innings. The Bees ended up needing all of those runs as Iowa scored five runs in the final three innings.

Bees MVP • Outfielder Bo Way went 1 for 3 with three RBIs, a sacrifice bunt and an outfield assist. Way's sacrifice bunt in the second gave the Bees a 3-0 lead, and his two-run single with the bases loaded in the fourth pushed the lead to 5-0.

Hidden Hero • Starting pitcher Parker Bridwell went five scoreless innings and tied a Bees season best with seven strikeouts. The game marked Bridwell's first Triple-A start as well as his Bees debut. The Angels acquired Bridwell via trade from the Baltimore Orioles on April 17.

Flashing Leather • Way threw out Iowa's Mark Zagunis trying to go first-to-third on an RBI single in the eighth inning. Way's throw came in almost perfectly to third baseman Sherman Johnson. That was Way's fourth outfield assist of the season.

Angel Angle • Angels infielder C.J. Cron started at first base and played the entire game for the Bees. The former University of Utah standout hit a double in his second at-bat and went 2-for-4 with two doubles in the game.

HISTORY LESSON • The Salt Lake Bees have won the season series against the Iowa Cubs in four of the past five seasons. That includes sweeps in 2013 and 2014. Bees manager Keith Johnson has gone 15-6 against the Cubs as Bees skipper.

WHAT'S NEXT • The Bees will continue their series against Iowa on Friday night at 6:35 in Smith's Ballpark. —

PCL Standings

American North W L Pct. GB

Colo. Springs (Brewers) 20 9 .690 —

Okla. City (Dodgers) 16 15 .516 5

Omaha (Royals) 14 17 .452 7

Iowa (Cubs) 14 18 .438 7½

American South W L Pct. GB

Memphis (Cardinals) 22 12 .647 —

Nashville (Athletics) 13 17 .433 7

Round Rock (Rangers) 14 19 .424 7½

New Orleans (Marlins) 11 21 .344 10

Pacific North W L Pct. GB

Tacoma (Mariners) 20 11 .645 —

Reno (Diamondbacks) 20 13 .606 1

Sacramento (Giants) 13 20 .394 8

Fresno (Astros) 13 20 .394 8

Pacific South W L Pct. GB

Salt Lake (Angels) 19 15 .559 —

Albuquerque (Rockies) 18 15 .545 ½

El Paso (Padres) 16 18 .471 3

Las Vegas (Mets) 15 18 .455 3½

Thursday's games

Sacramento 17, Colorado Springs 7

Albuquerque 7, Nashville 5

Memphis 6, El Paso 4

Salt Lake 6, Iowa 5

Fresno at Oklahoma City, late

New Orleans at Reno, late

Omaha at Las Vegas, late

Round Rock at Tacoma, late

Friday's games

Albuquerque at Nashville, 5:35 p.m.

El Paso at Memphis, 6:05 p.m.

Fresno at Oklahoma City, 6:05 p.m.

Iowa at Salt Lake, 6:35 p.m.

Sacramento at Colorado Springs, 7 p.m.

New Orleans at Reno, 7:35 p.m.

Omaha at Las Vegas, 8:05 p.m.

Round Rock at Tacoma, 8:05 p.m.