From Deseret News archives:
Stingers complete series sweep
Bootcheck, Mathis pace Salt Lake in win over Fresno
Bootcheck gave up just two runs and scattered six hits in seven complete innings of work. He retired 11 straight batters before giving up back-to-back singles in the fourth inning but didn't surrender a run until the seventh inning when Fresno outfielder Todd Linden homered to the scoreboard on the right field berm. The Stingers were comfortably ahead 4-0 at the time, and although the Grizzlies added another run that inning, Salt Lake responded with four more runs in its half of the seventh to put the game out of reach and secure Bootcheck's third win of the season against just one loss.
"I think the extra day of rest helped," Bootcheck said in the clubhouse, his shoulder and arm in an ice wrap. "I was trying to work on my delivery today, adding a little momentum to my pitches and the ball seemed to just drop into Matty's (Mathis') glove."
"Chris studies the scouting reports," manager Dino Ebel said. "He's taking coaching into the game. He spent the first two games (against Fresno) watching their hitters and taking notes and then went out and did the job."
As good as Bootcheck was, Fresno starter Patrick Misch started equally well but ran into trouble in the third inning as Ryan Budde scored Salt Lake's first run on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to left by Nick Gourneault. Luke Allen then intentionally walked to load the bases again and Mathis delivered an RBI single to give the Stingers a 2-0 lead. Salt Lake added two more runs in the fifth inning on a leadoff double by Maicer Izturis, who took third on a sacrifice bunt then was driven in by Luke Allen's home run for the 4-0 lead.
Leading 4-2 in the seventh Casey Smith singled and came home on Izturis' double to deep left center. Izturis advanced to third on another sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Allen again was intentionally walked and Mathis delivered a game-breaking triple into the gap in right center field to put Salt Lake ahead 7-2. Mathis scored later on Zach Sorensen's single to right for Salt Lake's eighth run.
Fresno added two runs in the eighth off reliever Eric Cyr for the final 8-4 score.
"We're on a roll right now," Ebel said. "We're getting outstanding starting pitching, we're playing defense and were getting timely hitting. When you can do those three things, this is what happens. We've just got to keep it up."
NOTES: Saturday's rainout was the seventh of the season at Franklin Covey Field and the eighth postponement overall. Both are franchise records. . . . Sunday' attendance was 3,131, well below the 12,447 in attendance last Sunday during the free ticket giveaway . . . Today's starters are LHP Corey Lee (4-2, 3.06) vs. LHP Bill Murphy (1-3, 6.50).
E-mail: jringwood@desnews.com
