Bootcheck hangs tough in Stinger win

FRESNO, Calif. — Salt Lake pitcher Chris Bootcheck was solid through six-plus innings and the Stingers notched a pair of key hits in the seventh en route to a 4-2 win over Fresno on Tuesday.

Bootcheck weaved through the Grizzlies lineup and rarely got into trouble before surrendering a pair of walks in the bottom-half of the seventh. Even so, he only allowed one earned run and scattered three hits over six-and-two-thirds innings to move to 4-3 this season.

His opposite number also pitched well. Fresno's Brian Kinney retired 10-straight batters at one point, and Salt Lake only managed to get after him in the seventh inning.

The Stingers loaded the base with three singles in that frame, two of which didn't leave the infield. Timely one-run singles from Brian Gordon and Adam Pavkovich broke a 1-1 tie and put Salt Lake ahead permanently.

A long home run from Luke Allen in the ninth added another insurance run for Salt Lake.

Bootcheck pitched brilliantly over the first four innings as he retired the first 12 batters he faced. The right-hander had three strikeouts in that stretch.

With one out in the third, Salt Lake first baseman Ryan Budde smacked a home run over the left-center field fence, putting Salt Lake ahead 1-0.

Marquis Grissom leveled the scoreline two innings later with a towering home run, which traveled roughly 450 feet and hit the scoreboard in center field. The left-fielder's home run was the first hit for Fresno.

Grissom and fellow San Francisco Giants veteran Edgardo Alfonzo are both on rehab assignments with Fresno.

Tuesday's game between Fresno and Salt Lake marked the sixth-straight time the teams have faced off. After a four-game series in Salt Lake, they're now halfway through another four-game set in California and will play again tonight at 8 p.m.

Star performer: Salt Lake's Chris Bootcheck throws six-plus innings, scattering three hits and allowing just one run to notch the victory.