Series recap: Salt Lake’s winning hand takes three-game series from Aces

Bryce Teodosio homers on Country Weekend. | Salt Lake Bees Photography Salt Lake got right back to work after a four-day layoff during the All-Star Break, taking two of three from the Reno Aces at The Ballpark at America First Square this weekend. The Bees continued their Friday prowess, winning the opener, and held off the Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate on Sunday to take the weekend set on Country Weekend all series long in South Jordan.

Series recapThe power was on display in Friday’s opener, after a short 20-minute delay. Pablo Reyes launched a pair of two-run homers for Salt Lake, while Kyren Paris also left the yard, his fourth homer in a six-game stretch. However, it was Logan Porter who saved the day with a clutch, two-out, two-run single in the eighth to seal a 9-8 series opening win.

>Salt Lake nearly erased a six-run deficit on Saturday night, tying the game in the seventh on an Omar Martinez three-run blast. However, Reno had other ideas as they posted a five-run ninth to complete an 11-6 victory that evened the series. George Klassen stole the show on Sunday, putting on a masterclass with 11 strikeouts in six innings of work. Combined with Zach Humphreys’ two-run triple and RBI double, the Bees held off Reno 8-6 to win the series. Both wins on the weekend were secured by Kaleb Ort, who collected his fifth and sixth saves of the year. The closer threw 23 total pitches, 22 of which were fastballs as he improved his July ERA to 1.17 in the month.

Prospect watchThe Angels’ fourth-rated prospect, Klassen, stole the show on Sunday. The Wisconsin native notched his sixth quality start of the season, tied for third most among PCL starters. He fired six innings, allowed one run (off a solo homer), walked three and struck out 11. Klassen tallied nine strikeouts through four innings on Sunday, the most ever by a Bees starting pitcher in the first four frames of a game in franchise history. Additionally, his 11 punchouts marks the first double-digit output of the year by a Salt Lake arm. In his four July starts, Klassen is 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA with 23.2 innings pitched and 25 strikeouts. Three of those four outings have accounted for quality starts, classified by MLB as “at least six innings pitched and allowed three or fewer earned runs.”

>The other top prospect currently on the Bees, second-ranked Nelson Rada, batted 3-for-12 (.250) with two runs scored, a double, an RBI, a walk and one sacrifice bunt in the series. Since the trip to Sacramento, the outfielder has hits in five of seven games played and is hitting .320 (8-for-25). Rada entered this weekend’s series on a high note after actively contributing at the 2026 All-Star Futures Game in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the MLB All-Star festivities. Despite going 0-for-3, the Venezuelan reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second, and scored the eventual go-ahead run for the American League. His efforts helped the AL squad take down the National League 6-1 in the seven-inning contest.

Around the basesAs previously mentioned, this weekend at the Ballpark was Country Weekend. Cowboy hats and boots could be visibly seen around the concourse as the season restarted following the All-Star Break. Fans on Friday night were treated to a postgame drone show after the win, while Saturday’s crowd got to see the fourth fireworks show of the season. A whole week of fun is up next at the Ballpark, with Family Night on Tuesday and the Utah Dirty Sodas returning on Wednesday. Thirsty Thursday leads into Pioneer Day, where fireworks will light up the sky postgame on Friday night. The homestand concludes Sunday with the second Abejas Night of the season along with a drone show.

What’s on deckThe nine-game homestand resumes Tuesday as the Omaha Storm Chasers (Triple-A, Kansas City Royals) come to town for a six-game series. This marks the only interleague matchup for the Bees in 2026; Salt Lake and Omaha begin their set at 6:35 p.m. MDT from South Jordan.

George Klassen strikes out team-best 11 batters on Sunday. | Salt Lake Bees Photography Zach Humphreys takes water bath after two-extra base hits on Sunday. | Salt Lake Bees Photography