Would the Bees be patient enough against the wild Rainier right-hander to take advantage of Cruceta's many gifts - including five walks in one inning of work?

The answer? Salt Lake sent 10 men to the plate and scored seven runs in the first inning on just three hits in a 9-7 Pacific Coast League victory at Franklin Covey Field. The victory secured the first-place Bees' sixth series win in eight played, as well as taking five of seven games in the homestand.

Despite having the tying run at the plate in the top of the ninth, Tacoma fell 2 1/2 games behind Salt Lake in the Pacific Northern Division standings.

"You try and take a look at what he's trying to do, find what he's throwing for strikes," said Salt Lake outfielder Nick Gorneault, who was a home run away from the cycle. "You try to start with an approach. . . . Today, it worked pretty good."

Salt Lake starter Joe Saunders (4-1) pitched just well enough for the win, but the Bees needed three solid innings from the bullpen to close out the game. Jason Bulger pitched the ninth for his third save.

"Start fast and hold on," Salt Lake manager Brian Harper said. "It happens in baseball, you get some runs early and then things settle down."

For Harper, the Bees' patience was the result of keeping focus.

"You change your sights," he said. "You narrow the strike zone and be more disciplined. And our players were."

Salt Lake only managed six hits, but four were for extra bases, including a two-run double in the first inning and a run-scoring triple in the second by Gorneault. He admitted thinking about a possible cycle.

"After the single, I'm not going to lie, it did enter my mind," said Gorneault, who leads the Bees with 23 RBIs.

Salt Lake eventually opened a 9-3 lead after two innings, while the Rainiers continued to chip away.

The Bees next open a four-game series in Omaha. They'll be without Dallas McPherson, who was recalled to the Los Angeles Angels following Monday's game.

martyr@sltrib.com