Stingers win series finale

Salt Lake jumped out to an early lead Sunday, tacked on an insurance run in the middle innings then held off a Rainier rally in the ninth to preserve a 3-2 win and maintain its PCL-best record.

Starter Chris Bootcheck worked six complete innings allowing only one run on six hits, but it was Brian Gordon's running catch in center field with the bases loaded that allowed Salt Lake to escape with the win to end this home stand. The victory means the Stingers tied the Rainiers 2-2 and haven't lost a series this year. At 14-8, the Stingers hold the best record in the Pacific Coast League and remain in first place in the Northern Division.

Bootcheck looked sharp all day, getting ahead of hitters and keeping batters off balance. Even when someone reached base, the Stingers infield was able to turn double plays or get the lead runner.

"I felt strong all day," Bootcheck said afterward. "Budde (Stingers catcher Ryan Budde) called a great game, and we were ahead most of the afternoon so it made my job a little easier. I just think some of the positive things from spring (training) have carried over into this season."

The Stingers scored first when Casey Kotchman beat out an infield hit to the shortstop. After Curtis Pride walked on four straight pitches, last-minute replacement Luke Allen hit a line shot up the middle, scoring Kotchman and advancing Pride to third. Pride then scored on a wild pitch by Rainier starter Andrew Lorraine.

Tacoma came right back with a run in the second when Bryce Terveen drove in Dave Hansen. With runners on first and second, Dustin Delluchi hit a hard shot to Stingers second baseman Alexi Casilla who reached down to tag out Terveen, then made a diving throw to first base to get Delluchi for the inning-ending double play.

The Stingers added a run in the fifth inning when Casilla singled to right and scored on Casey Smith's triple in the gap into right center. Later in the inning, Smith was thrown out at home on Pride's infield grounder to the shortstop. Then Pride was caught stealing second base on a close call that brought manager Dino Ebel onto the field from his vantage point at the third base coach's box to argue with umpire Mike Muchlinski but to no avail.

"I have no problem with players being aggressive," Ebel said afterward. "Chris got us through six innings, and we stayed aggressive and made some big plays to get the win."