This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The fireworks started early Saturday night at Spring Mobile Ballpark.
In the ninth inning of Reno's 8-5 victory over Salt Lake, Bees' manager Keith Johnson was ejected after reliever David Hernandez hit leadoff batter Scott Cousins with a pitch.
Plate umpire Chris Segal quickly issued a warning to both benches and, when Reno manager Brett Butler came out to discuss the situation, Johnson started shouting and pointing at him.
After Butler returned to the bench, Johnson continued to gesture at the Reno bench. He was ejected and left the playing field, but not before all three umpires had to step between him and the Aces' bench.
After the game, Johnson was in a foul mood.
Asked what happened, he said, "I got kicked out of the game."
Asked if he thought Hernandez threw at Cousins, Johnson said, "I got kicked out of the game.
The incident seemed to rally the Bees.
Cousins, only Salt Lake's second baserunner since the fourth, scored on Drew Heid's RBI single. But Hernandez retired Matt Long and Tommy Field to preserve the win and set the stage for a promotional fireworks display.
"We'll be fine," Johnson said, after Salt Lake lost for the 10th time in 14 games.
The Bees jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
After Heid's leadoff home run, Efren Navarro singled with two out. Andy Marte followed by blasting a 1-0 pitch over the left field fence.
Salt Lake extended its lead in the third when Field singled, moved to third on another hit by Navarro and scored on Marte's towering sacrifice fly. Bees' starter Tommy Hanson, who allowed only one hit through the first three innings, ran into trouble in the fourth. Reno's Chris Owings singled, and two outs later, Juan Rivera homered to make it 4-2.
The Aces tied the game in the top of the fifth when Alfredo Marte singled and Josh Wilson blasted his fourth home run of the season.
Fernando Cabrera replaced Hanson to start the sixth inning, and three batters later, Reno owned a 7-4 lead. Rivera and Ed Easley opened with singles before Alfredo homered.
Raptors 9, Owlz 1 • Zach Babitt was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs, and Jake Fisher scattered six hits and struck out five in five inning of work as Ogden defeated Orem in a Pioneer League game in Ogden.
Six Ogden (34-34) players had an RBI, including Jesus Valdez, who hit a double and scored twice.
Kody Eaves was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI for Orem (35-32).
Aces 8, Bees 5
R Reno rallies from an early four-run deficit and defeats Salt Lake City, 8-4.
• Designated hitter Andy Marte homers and drives in three runs for the Bees.
• Salt Lake concludes the regular season Sunday and Monday against Reno.