By Jared Lloyd
The Salt Lake Stingers have struggled at times this season to put together a strong offensive and defensive game.
Wednesday night, Aug. 7, they found all of the pieces in a 7-2 victory over the Nashville Sounds at Franklin Covey Field.
“We had some big hits and good defense,” Stingers” manager Mike Brumley said. “It was just a well played game tonight.”
Salt Lake got solid games from left fielder Robb Quinlan, third baseman Keith Johnson, and right fielder Jose Nieves.
Quinlan and Johnson got two hits each and scored three runs. Nieves racked up two RBIs on a double over Nashville center fielder Tike Redman.
Salt Lake got on the board in the fourth, snapping their streak of twelve straight scoreless innings.
A walk and a single by Quinlan set the stage for Nieves” double. Nieves later scored on a single by first baseman Jamie Burke and the Stingers had a 3-0 lead.
Salt Lake got insurance runs in the fifth, sixth, and eighth innings, including a solo home run by Johnson. Three runs, however, were all the pitching staff needed.
Stingers starter Mickey Calloway (9-1) pitched six innings, giving up two runs on seven hits and struck out four.
Calloway, who is returning from a protruding disk back injury earlier in the season, appeared to be regaining his early-season form.
“I thought tonight he was sharper than last time out,” Brumley said. “He just doesn”t give in to hitters. He”s consistently trying to make pitches.”
“I feel strong,” Calloway said. “My back feels good, my arm feels good. I”m feeling good again.”
The Sounds broke through in the sixth, getting two runs on four singles.
They threatened to narrow the gap, putting two on with only one out, but a ground out and a strikeout ended the threat.
Salt Lake relievers Greg Jones and Francisco Rodriquez closed the game with scoreless innings.
With the victory, the Stingers extended their PCL Central Division lead to three games over Omaha.
“Everybody is watching the standings right now,” Brumley said. “It”s going to change a lot in the next 25 days. We”ve just got to take care of our end of it.”
“Teams are going to go through some bad spurts,” Calloway said. “We”ve been through ours and now we”re going to come back and put it on some guys.”
Salt Lake finishes the series with Nashville tonight at Franklin Covey Field. Stingers RHP Matt Wise (3-2, 4.43) faces Sounds LHP Kevin Tolar (3-1, 3.71).
The game is scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. and can be heard locally on ESPN Radio AM 1230.
