In their first Utah meeting since an offseason affiliation switch, the Salt Lake Stingers defeated the old Salt Lake Buzz (Edmonton Trappers) 5-4 Tuesday night at Franklin Covey.
Though Stingers manager Garry Templeton, who coached the Trappers last season, admits it was kind of different to see the teams on opposing sides, changes are just part of the business of baseball.
On the field, however, it's still just a game.
"And sometimes it's the contact hitter that wins it for you," said Templeton, whose Central Division-leading squad improved to 62-42 after Juan Tolentino's game-winning single in the ninth inning.
Wilmy Caceres, who singled earlier in the inning, scored the game-winning run when Tolentino took Templeton's advice to avoid swinging for a homer and settle for a base hit.
"He's always telling me that," laughed Tolentino, who belted a solo home run in the first inning. "But I'll take it."
The blast opened an outburst that gave Salt Lake City a 4-0 lead after two innings. Jose Fernandez added an RBI double in the first before Jose Molina closed the burst with a two-run homer in the second.
Edmonton pulled even in the sixth when Larry Sutton and Javier Valentin each belted two-run shots for the Trappers.
The series continues Wednesday at 7 p.m.
E-mail: dirk@desnews.com