J.B. Shuck keeps hitting, but Salt Lake Bees lose to Las Vegas 7-6

J.B. Shuck kept hitting, but it didn't help the Salt Lake Bees on Tuesday night.

Wilmer Flores hit a tie-breaking three-run homer in the fifth inning and Las Vegas scored a 7-6 victory over the Bees at rainy Smith's Ballpark.

Shuck went 2-for-4 in the loss, meaning he's 7-for-12 since being sent down by the parent Los Angeles Angels last weekend. He just missed a two-run homer in the seventh inning, when his long drive over the foul pole in right was called foul. He eventually walked.

Asked the difference in the pitching he's now facing in the PCL, Shuck said, "It's a little bit more refined up there. Guys don't miss quite as much. Down here, you've got guys still trying to figure it out and they'll tend to miss a little bit more."

Shuck started the season in Salt Lake, but he was recalled by the Angels on April 19. He hit .193 in 19 games in Los Angeles before being shipped back to the Bees.

"I'm just trying to get back on track," Shuck said, "and help the team here win."

In a matchup of the top scoring teams in the PCL, Las Vegas jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first on Flores' RBI double and Allan Dykstra's towering two-run homer.

In the second, the 51s increased their lead to 4-0 when Juan Centeno, the No. 9 hitter in manager Wally Backman's batting order, hit a solo homer.

Salt Lake broke through in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, Brennan Boesch doubled. After Matt Long grounded out, Luis Martinez lined a 2-2 pitch over the fence in left, making it 4-2.

With a heavy rain starting to fall, Salt Lake tied the game with two outs in the third when Taylor Lindsey doubled and Roberto Lopez blasted the game's fourth home run.

Play was stopped for 83 minutes after Grube retired the 51s in order in the fourth. But when the game resumed, Las Vegas quickly regained the lead.

With Dustin Richardson on for Grube, Centeno opened the top of the fifth with a single. Campbell followed with another single. After Kirk Nieuwenhuis struck out, Flores launched his three-run homer to make it 7-4. —

Storylines • Las Vegas 7, Salt Lake Bees 6

• In a PCL game delayed 83 minutes by rain, Las Vegas defeats Salt Lake, 7-6.

• J.B. Shuck continues his hot hitting for the Bees with a double in three at-bats.