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Mike Napoli went 4-for-5 and Erick Aybar drove in three runs as visiting Salt Lake stung Tucson, 9-3, in its season opener Thursday.
After the Sidewinders' Stephen Drew homered in his first Triple-A at-bat, the Bees stormed back with six unanswered runs.
Salt Lake scored four runs in the second inning on RBI singles by Napoli and Reggie Willits. Aybar added a two-run triple in the frame. In the third, Napoli scored on an error by Tucson starter Kevin Jarvis (0-1), and Willits singled in Tommy Murphy.
Salt Lake finished the game with 17 hits. Aybar collected three hits, while Howie Kendrick, Nick Gorneault, Murphy and Willits had two hits apiece. Curtis Pride, Napoli and Willits each scored twice.
Bees starter Joe Saunders (1-0) yielded three runs -- two earned -- on eight hits with two strikeouts in six innings. Matt Wilhite, Jason Bulger and Kasey Olenberger followed with a scoreless inning apiece in relief.
The two teams play again at 9:30 p.m. ET on Friday in Tucson.
By The Associated Press
American Conference
Northern Division W L Pct. GB
Iowa (Cubs) 0 1 .000 1/2
Memphis (Cardinals) 0 1 .000 1/2
Nashville (Brewers) 0 0 .000 --
Omaha (Royals) 0 0 .000 --
Southern Division W L Pct. GB
Albuquerque (Marlins) 1 0 1.000 --
Oklahoma (Rangers) 1 0 1.000 --
Round Rock (Astros) 1 0 1.000 --
New Orleans (Nationals) 0 1 .000 1
Pacific Conference
Northern Division W L Pct. GB
Portland (Padres) 1 0 1.000 --
Salt Lake (Angels) 1 0 1.000 --
Tacoma (Mariners) 1 0 1.000 --
Col. Springs (Rockies) 0 1 .000 1
Southern Division W L Pct. GB
Las Vegas (Dodgers) 1 0 1.000 --
Fresno (Giants) 0 1 .000 1
Sacramento (Athletics) 0 1 .000 1
Tucson (Diamondbacks) 0 1 .000 1 ------
Thursday's Games
Nashville at Omaha, ppd., rain
Albuquerque 8, Iowa 4
Tacoma 3, Colorado Springs 1
Round Rock 5, New Orleans 4
Oklahoma 5, Memphis 4, 13 innings
Salt Lake 9, Tucson 3
Las Vegas 7, Fresno 2
Portland 6, Sacramento 4
Friday's Games
Albuquerque at Iowa
Colorado Springs at Tacoma
Fresno at Las Vegas
Memphis at Oklahoma
Nashville at Omaha
Round Rock at New Orleans
Sacramento at Portland
Salt Lake at Tucson
Saturday's Games
Albuquerque at Iowa
Colorado Springs at Tacoma
Fresno at Las Vegas
Memphis at Oklahoma
Nashville at Omaha, 1st game
Nashville at Omaha, 2nd game
Round Rock at New Orleans
Sacramento at Portland
Salt Lake at Tucson
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-04-07-06 0510MDT
