Apparently, there's no place like Tucson for the Salt Lake Buzz.
Buzz pitchers combined for a three-hitter Thursday as Salt Lake improved to 5-0 at Hi Corbett Field this season with a 2-1 victory over the Toros.Starter LaTroy Hawkins (4-5) snapped a personal three-game losing streak by picking up the win after striking out eight in five scoreless innings. Jose Parra picked up his seventh save - retiring all six batters he faced.
The Buzz took the lead for good in the second inning when Steve Hazlett's sacrifice fly drove in Damian Miller who had doubled. The lead grew to 2-0 in the sixth when Miller scored again - this time on a Mitch Simons single with two outs.
Tucson scored its lone run in the seventh when Ray Montgomery smacked an RBI double off of middle reliever Phil Stidham.
Salt Lake, which stranded 10 baserunners, improves to 12-9 in the second half. Meanwhile, Tucson falls to 8-13 with its fourth consecutive loss. The Buzz trail Edmonton by one game in the Northern Division.
Brett Roberts (6-6, 4.89 ERA) gets the start for Salt Lake tonight as the series continues. He will battle David Evans (3-7, 5.08).
BUZZ BRIEFS: Scott Klingenbeck will replace Mike Milchin on Salt Lake's roster after the Minnesota Twins decided to switch locales for the pitchers. Milchin was promoted Thursday . . . From the Brrr-lieve It Or Not Dept.: According to Tucson officials, the Toros have battled the Arizona heat by consuming 5,561 Otter Pop frozen treats as of the Triple-A All-Star break . . . The Buzz return home July 19 for eight games after the current road swing through Tucson and Las Vegas.