To the delight of the Salt Lake Buzz, pennant fever is spreading. No need for booster shots or immunizations here.
"It's all pulling together," Buzz manager Phil Roof said after his squad's 8-2 victory over Vancouver Wednesday at Franklin Quest Field. "Hitting is contagious. Winning is contagious. And we're on a roll right now. The guys are relaxed and having fun."Translation: Five straight wins have propelled Salt Lake to a one-game lead over Edmonton in the PCL Northern Division race.
The latest triumph came courtesy of Roof's "in a groove" duo - pitcher LaTroy Hawkins and third baseman Tom Quinlan.
Hawkins (6-6) recorded eight strikeouts and allowed just five hits in eight innings of work, while Quinlan homered for the seventh time in 12 games in driving in five runs against the Canadians.
"With a well-pitched game like that, there's reason to smile. (Hawkins) got in a groove there and went to work," Roof beamed. "And Quinlan walked up (to the plate) with some authority tonight. He's in a groove right now and he's capable - phenomenal the last 15 games."
Trailing 1-0 after surrendering a pair of hits in the second inning, the Buzz took the lead for good in the bottom of the frame with four runs - two off a double by Quinlan.
Teammate Denny Hocking, who extended his hit streak to 12 games, played a role in the others. His RBI single was followed by a hot-box situation that allowed an additional run to score.
Once ahead, Salt Lake remained in control. Vancouver closed the deficit to 4-2 with a homer in the third, but the reduction proved short-lived. A run-scoring single by Riccardo Ingram in the fifth served as a prelude to Quinlan's three-run blast to left-centerfield.
"I've been swinging the bat well," said Quinlan, who was recently tabbed as Offensive Player of the Week in the Minnesota Twins organization. "Hopefully, I'll just keep it going, drive in some runs and help this team win."
BUZZ BRIEFS: Salt Lake concludes its eight-game homestand tonight against Vancouver. Following four-game sets in Las Vegas and Albuquerque, the Buzz return to Franklin Quest Field on Aug. 19 . . . Vancouver shortstop Brian Grebeck, who has homered just six times in the last two seasons, connected on a solo shot in the third inning Wednesday - improving his Salt Lake City total to five.
Other PCL games
Edmonton 6, Las Vegas 1 (1st)
Edmonton 8, Las Vegas 4 (2nd)
At Las Vegas, Scott Bryant had two hits and two RBIs to lead the Trappers to an 8-4 seven-inning win in the second game of a doubleheader.
In the first game, Mike Maksudian went 4-4 with a double-triple, two RBIs and three runs scored to lead the Trappers past Las Vegas, 6-1.
Tacoma 10, Phoenix 9, 12 innings
At Scottsdale, Ariz., Greg Litton's sacrifice fly scored Arquimedez Pozo in the top of the 12th to give the Rainiers the victory.
Phoenix took a 9-7 lead into the ninth inning, but Darren Bragg hit a two-out, two-run single to send the game into extra innings.
Tucson 9, Colorado Springs 8
AT Colorado Springs, Colo., Mike Brumley and Chris Hatcher each scored home runs for Tucson.
Colorado Springs gave up three runs - including the game-winner - on errors and snapped a five-game winning streak.
Albuquerque 4, Calgary 3
At Albuquerque, Henry Blanco's first home run of the season gave Albuquerque a tie that was broken in the 10th inning by Karim Garcia's single to right.