Cannons 4, Buzz 2
Salt Lake Buzz leadoff hitter John Barnes took the first pitch from Calgary's John DeSilva deep over the centerfield wall.
If you're a Buzz fan, stop here.
There wasn't much in the way of highlights from the Buzz's 4-2 loss to the Calgary Cannons — six of the nine innings Tuesday were scoreless, DeSilva allowed the Buzz just four hits, the Cannons' bullpen gave up just one.
"He had our number," Buzz Manager Phil Roof said of DeSilva, who pitched collegiately at BYU. "He kept us off-balance, and that's been unusual this season."
After Barnes' home run, DeSilva didn't allow a runner on base in the second, third, fourth or fifth innings.
DeSilva was a late addition to the Cannons' lineup. He slid in at game time to replace Vladimir Nunez.
"I was worried because I lifted weights and ran this morning," said DeSilva, "so I didn't really feel prepared. But I know I have to be really sharp because this in an excellent hitting ball club."
Salt Lake starter Mike Romano kept pace, putting only two runners on base and not allowing a hit in the first four innings, but Calgary broke out in the fifth.
After giving up two singles and a walk to start the inning, Romano walked Chris Tremie to put the first Calgary run on the board. He would give up an RBI to each of the next three batters to account for all four Cannons runs.
Calgary didn't score again, didn't even come close. The Buzz gave up just two hits in the remaining five innings, but the Cannons' defense held.
"Good pitching stops good hitting," said Roof. "We tried to get a rally going in the ninth, but we just couldn't execute."
A.J. Pierzynski's bat breaking when he struck out in the bottom of the ninth aside, Salt Lake handled the loss pretty well. Of course, the Buzz are still 30 games over .500 and still hold a 13-game lead in the PCL's northern division.
"I can't be disappointed in this group of boys," said Roof. "We've faced good pitching and we've faced average pitching and we've come out on top many, many times."
The Buzz host the Cannons again Wednesday and Thursday.