5-run 6th inning dooms Stingers

Before Wednesday's game with Iowa, Stingers manager Mike Brumley posted a notice in the clubhouse: "No workout Thursday if we win." Salt Lake will still take the day off after dropping a 7-4 decision to the Cubs at Franklin Covey Field.

Iowa starter Jimmy Anderson frustrated the Salt Lake offense, but the big blow came in the top of the sixth inning when Iowa scored five runs on five hits, including a three-run home run by Richard Lewis.

"We couldn't get that big hit to score some runs when we needed them," Brumley said. "We had some rallies going but couldn't get that extra base hit." Indeed the Stingers, who have been on a tear of late hitting double after double, recorded only one extra base hit and had no one reach base with a walk.

"Anderson is a control pitcher," Brumley said. "He works fast and doesn't walk a lot of people. Iowa has a good staff, so a split (with the first-place Cubs) is satisfying."

The Stingers started the game with four straight hits by Zach Sorensen, Adam Riggs, Casey Kotchman and Andres Galarraga. Kotchman drove in Sorensen and Galarraga drove in Riggs for the early 2-0 lead.

The Cubs tied the game in the fourth when Gookie Dawkins singled and advanced to third on Donny Leon's double. David Kelton followed with a double to deep right driving in Dawkins and Leon.

The Stingers regained the lead when Jake Thrower's popup to right dropped for a double to lead off the fifth. He advanced to third on a throwing error by Dawkins, the Cub shortstop, who overthrew the first baseman on Sorensen's grounder. Riggs' sacrifice to right field brought Thrower home and Sorensen advanced to second on the throw to the plate. Galarraga then singled in Sorensen for the 4-2 lead.

But that's when the Cubs rallied, filling the bases on two hits and a walk. Fernando Lunar's sacrifice fly to right scored Dawkins, who was on third base, and that was all for Stinger starter Jason Millbrook. Emanuel entered the game and gave up a one-run single to Hubbard to tie the game 4-4. Then Lewis connected for a deep home run to right, making the score 7-4.

"Lewis is a nice hitter and Emanual made a good pitch with a low curve but Lewis went down and got it. In a close game like that, one big blow is all it takes," Brumley said.

The Stingers had two men on base and one out in the eighth but could not score. Riggs was called out on strikes in the ninth to end the game.

Riggs, who had two home runs in Tuesday's doubleheader, had another strong outing, going 4-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.

The Stingers head to Portland for a four-game series before returning to Salt Lake for an eight-game homestand.

NOTES: Attendance Wednesday night was 6,514 . . . Middlebrook needs four strikeouts for his 700th minor league K . . . Riggs leads Salt Lake with 36 multi-hit games and extended his hitting streak to eight games. He is also third in the PCL with 85 runs scored . . . Brian Gordon, Tuesday night's hero, came in to run for Galarraga in the eighth, but did not score.

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E-mail: jringwood@desnews.com