Buzz 8, RiverCats 4

Buzz manager Phil Roof has had to lay off the potato chips and red meat lately.With all of the one-run games his team has been involved in this season, his blood pressure may have raised a few notches.

But now, Roof can indulge in a little post-game buffet after the Buzz handily defeated Sacramento, 8-4, Friday at Franklin Covey Field.

Of the nine games the Buzz have played so far, five have been within one run. Friday's victory marks the first game this season that Salt Lake (5-4) has won by more than a nose.

Starting pitcher Benj Sampson earned his first victory of the season, surrendering three earned runs off seven hits in seven innings.

Sampson muddled through the first inning, relinquishing all three RiverCat runs off four consecutive base hits to left-center field.

"Sampson struggled a little bit early on and wasn't locating his fastball," Roof said.

After the top of the first, Sampson found his groove and racked up seven strikeouts and held the RiverCats (6-2) to three hits.

"He got his curveball and changeup going," said Roof. "He finally got into a rhythm."

So did the rest of the Buzz.

Tied 3-3 going into the fourth, shortstop Jay Canizaro lined a sharp single to left field to score catcher Chad Moeller for the go-ahead run.

Designated hitter Dan Cey put the Buzz ahead for good in the fifth with a two-run single and the help of a Sacramento wild pitch.

Canizaro followed with an RBI-double to the centerfield wall that sealed the four-run inning.

"Cey's hit really iced the game for us," said Roof. "We need big innings like that to put us up front."

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Sacramento posed a rally in the eighth after Salt Lake brought in Jack Cressend to relieve Sampson.

The RiverCats loaded the bases off a pair of walks and a base hit, bringing up Chris Norton as the potential tying run. Norton dribbled a ball to third baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, who missed the tag on Terrence Long. The play scored Adam Piatt for Sacramento's fourth and final run.

The series continues today at 6:15 p.m. at Franklin Covey Field.

BEE LINES: The Buzz victory snapped a six-game win streak for Sacramento . . . Attendance was announced at 4,795.

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