Stingers win a rare close one

After three straight wins in which they broke or tied a passel of offensive records, the Salt Lake Stingers took a more conventional approach to victory Monday night.

They even recorded a rare save, though that didn't come without a little adventure.

Salt Lake defeated the Iowa Cubs, 7-6, thanks to a strong effort from its beleaguered bullpen and another good offensive performance. The Stingers pounded out 17 hits, including two homers and three doubles.

"It's nice watching this lineup play," said Stingers manager Mike Brumley, in what may be the understatement of the season.

"This lineup" includes three bona fide major leaguers—Andres Galarraga, Jeff DaVanon and Shane Halter—as well as the two best hitting prospects in the Angels organization, Casey Kotchman and Dallas McPherson. As a group they've been on a tear, scoring 54 runs in their last four games.

"We're getting some balls deep, finding some holes," Brumley said. "When it's hot and kind of still in this park, the ball can fly out pretty quick."

Which is what it did right from the start, The Stingers fell behind quickly in this game, thanks to a solo home run by Iowa leadoff hitter Trenidad Hubbard in the first inning, followed soon after by another Cub run on two singles, a fielder's choice, walk and sacrifice fly.

But Salt Lake answered immediately, getting its own leadoff homer from Jeff DaVanon, followed by a walk to Zach Sorensen and a single by Casey Kotchman off the leg of Cubs' starter Kevin McGlinchy. That put Sorensen on third, and he scored when Andres Galarraga bounced into a double play.

Salt Lake took the lead briefly in the second on a leadoff homer by Shane Halter, after which the Cubs tied it again at 3 on a homer by Brian DuBois.

But the Stingers took the lead for good in the third with a three-run outburst. Sorensen led off with a single, Kotchman doubled him in, and Galarraga singled. A batter later, Halter singled in Kotchman, and Jake Thrower concluded the scoring with a sacrifice fly, making it 6-3.

The Cubs scored a couple times in the fourth to cut Salt Lake's lead to one, but Joel Peralta threw three scoreless innings to earn the victory, and Greg Jones added another shutout inning.

That brought on Dusty Bergman as the designated closer of the evening, and he got two quick outs before giving up three straight singles, which cut a 7-5 lead to one. But he struck out the veteran Hubbard to earn the save and clinch the win.

The series continues today at Franklin Covey Field with a doubleheader starting at 6 p.m. Steve Green (5-13, 7.97 ERA) is scheduled to start Game 1 for Salt Lake, opposed by John Koronka (9-8, 4.11). Scott Dunn (7-4, 3.76) is expected to start Game 2 for Salt Lake, against an undetermined Cub.

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E-mail: rich@desnews.com