The Salt Lake Bees (23-39/62-74) got back to business away from the Beehive State this week, continuing their season-high 12-game road trip in Sacramento.
For the first time since 2022, the Bees secured a series victory in California’s capital, taking four of six from the River Cats (34-29/76-59). Strong starting pitching, a pair of extra-inning battles and a thrilling Sunday afternoon comeback summed up the Bees’ third series victory in their last four six-game sets. The Bees finished their trip at 5-7 and now return home for the final home stand of the 2026 campaign.
In Tuesday’s series opener, Salt Lake looked to Caden Dana to end a four-game losing streak. The righty spun five shutout frames with a season-high eight strikeouts to set the tone in the series.
Pablo Reyes’ three RBIs did the job at the plate as the Bees won 4-1. Dominant pitching carried over to Wednesday’s contest, as Brett Kerry delivered six dazzling innings of shutout baseball. Ben Gobbel’s solo shot had Salt Lake in front 1-0 for most of the evening, before Sacramento prevailed 3-1 with a walk-off three-run homer in the ninth.
The Bees withstood a late Sacramento comeback on Thursday, getting a 3-3 game to extra innings. Reyes came through with a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the 10th before Leonard Garcia slammed the door shut with three strikeouts for a 4-3 win.
Up 6-1, Salt Lake saw its lead evaporate with a five-run seventh that gave the River Cats a 7-6 advantage. However, the visitors were not fazed, battling for a second straight extra-inning victory. Bryce Teodosio ended a 0-for-14 slump with his go-ahead RBI single to power the Bees to a winning 8-7 decision in 10 innings.
Sacramento’s consecutive three-run frames would be enough on Saturday despite a late Bees rally.
Two runs in the eighth made the ninth consequential, but the Bees couldn’t create any magic as they fell 6-3. However, on Sunday, the Bees conjured more magic.
The series finale had lots of action throughout. Down 3-2, Raudi Rodriguez tied the game in the sixth with a solo shot to right center field. In the ninth, Salt Lake authored a two-out rally, scoring three times in the half inning on RBI singles from Reyes, Rodriguez and Yolmer Sánchez. Garcia again shut the door, earning his second save of the week and completing the series in style.
The Bees collected their eighth series win of 2026 while also notching their first series victory at Sacramento since May of 2022 (also four games to two). The season series wrapped up at 12-12 for the second straight season; both teams have a series win and six splits in this span.
Los Angeles sixth-ranked prospect, Nelson Rada, wasn’t himself throughout the 12-game road trip, including the five games he played in Sacramento. The 21-year-old finished the series batting just 1 for 17 (.059), his lone hit coming in the first game of the set.
Rada walked twice, drove in one run and struck out six times. The outfielder did steal two bases, bringing his season total to 36, just nine shy of setting a new single-season stolen base record for the Bees. Rada finished the road trip with just four hits in 37 at-bats and will look to turn things around at the plate for the remainder of the season.
It was also a tough series for the Halos’ 19th-ranked prospect, Rodriguez. The outfielder, who has played in just 26 games as a Bee this season, went 3 for 22 while appearing in all six games against the River Cats.
Rodriguez did account for one of Salt Lake’s runs in the final game of the series, hitting an opposite-field homer, his third as a Bee. He scored five times, drove in two runs, walked three times, struck out four times and stole a base. Rodriguez stayed perfect in the field, as he still hasn’t committed an error during his time as a Bee. The outfielder continues to showcase his ability to do the little things right, making the routine plays while also coming up with the flashy ones when needed.
Saturday night’s starter, Joel Hurtado, the Angels’ 27th-ranked prospect, reached at least five innings for the third straight start. The right-hander allowed six runs on seven hits while giving up a personal Triple-A-high three home runs. He struck out five and walked two on 84 pitches. Hurtado will look to limit the damage in his final few starts of the season. The righty sits at 0-3 with a 10.50 ERA, recording 21 strikeouts and 16 walks across 24 innings of work. Opposing batters are hitting a healthy .352 against him.
The final home stand in 2026 is officially here, starting Tuesday night in South Jordan. Bark in the Park, the final sighting of the Utah Dirty Sodas, Abejas Night, a 9/11 Tribute on Friday, Saturday night fireworks and Bluey all take center stage amid the last six home games of the season.
Salt Lake welcomes the Round Rock Express (Triple-A, Texas Rangers) for their only six-game set in South Jordan. The series gets underway on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. MDT from The Ballpark at America First Square.
Prospect Nelson Rada Celebrates a home run. | Salt Lake Photography
Pablo Reyes stands in the batter’s box. | Salt Lake Photography
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