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SALT LAKE CITY — Being the all-time hits leader for a Triple-A baseball franchise is a bittersweet circumstance.
On one instance, it means that you’ve stayed on the doorstep of the major leagues for a long time. However, it also indicates a player is habitually one step away from the big leagues. Regardless of those thoughts, the Salt Lake Bees’ Efren Navarro became the franchise’s hits leader on a double in the third inning. The Bees used that to beat the Albuquerque Isotopes, 6-4, at Smith’s Ballpark in Salt Lake City.
“It’s a bittersweet moment,” said Navarro. “Obviously the goal is to be in the big leagues and to break records there, but it just shows the hard work and dedication I put in day in and day out.”
A day after Salt Lake lost 13-12 to Albuquerque, the Isotopes opened hot offensively again, scoring two runs in the top of the third inning. However, the Bees countered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning, with first baseman Taylor Lindsey scoring on a Luis Jimenez single. Then, Navarro’s double scored both third baseman Grant Green and Jimenez to give Salt Lake a 3-2 lead.
Navarro hit an RBI double in the third inning to become Salt Lake's all- time hits leader.
Navarro said he was unaware of the record at the time.
“I actually had no idea,” he said. “There was a rumor that I was pretty close, and I think it would be a little different if it happened in the big leagues. It’s a little different here.”
Despite the obvious nature of the record, Bees manager Keith Johnson noted that Navarro has been a tremendous player in his time in Salt Lake City.
“Him being the Bees’ all-time hit leader now, it’s not necessarily something that you want … but at the same time, it’s just a testament to who he is as a baseball player and as a person,” he said. “I firmly believe that he can play Major League Baseball. He’s a major league hitter; he’s a major league defender. He’s just a major league player, in my opinion.”
Navarro’s status as a draftee in the 50th round indicated that he might not ever have a chance to play high-level baseball. However, Johnson said he has thrown that status out the window.
“The draft order, all that does is it gives you a certain amount of years of moving up the ladder,” he said. “Then, at some point, everything evens out. Getting the job done is way more important than the round you were drafted in, and he’s done a great job at every level he’s been at.”
Salt Lake also scored two runs in the fourth inning, with shortstop Tommy Field and Jimenez scoring.
Bees starting pitcher Matt Shoemaker, making his second start for Salt Lake this season after beginning the season with parent club Los Angeles, pitched four innings of four-run baseball, with reliever Kurt Spomer earning the win in his first Triple-A appearance.
Grant Green also continued his dominance in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with a walk to increase his batting average to .400, while Tommy Field and Luis Martinez each chipped in a 2-for-4 night at the plate.
The Bees and Albuquerque meet for the final game of the series Tuesday, with first pitch scheduled for 12:05 p.m. Bees left-hander Jose Alvarez is scheduled to face Isotopes right-hander Henry Sosa.
