It's time, says manager Garry Templeton, for the Stingers to batten down the hatches and show more consistency at home.
A pennant race demands it.
"If we want it we're going to have to go out and earn it," Templeton said of Salt Lake City's quest to claim the PCL's Central Division crown. "We have to keep doing what we can do. We can't worry about Iowa."
The Cubs, however, have given the Stingers reason to fret. They managed to erase what was once a nine-game deficit and pull into a first-place tie as the regular season entered its final two weeks. The reduction is due, in large part, to Salt Lake's inconsistent play at home.
On Saturday, the Stingers took a step toward fixing the problem with a 7-1 win over Omaha. The victory, coupled with Iowa's 4-3 loss at Colorado Springs, gives Salt Lake a one-game lead over the Cubs with just nine to go.
It also improves the Stingers' record to 10-9 at Franklin Covey Field since completing a four-game sweep of Sacramento on July 3. Iowa, by comparison, is 15-4 over its past 19 games at home.
The differential has tightened the pennant race. The remaining schedule, though, could loosen it.
Before a season-ending four-game series between the contenders in Des Moines, the Stingers have five home games, and the Cubs play five on the road. The possibility exists that the final series could be meaningless — especially if Salt Lake City can win all of its remaining games at home.
"We've got to take advantage of being at home," said Templeton. "If we do what we're capable of, we've got a good chance of going into Iowa with a lead."
Although he'd obviously prefer to have the pennant race wrapped, Templeton would settle for a two or three game advantage by the time Salt Lake's final homestand is complete.
The Stingers extended their winning streak to two behind winning pitcher John Lackey, who threw a complete game, and the hitting of sluggers Scott Morgan and Chris Pritchett. Morgan belted a grand slam in the seventh to give a fan a $10,000 payday in a contest, while Pritchett drove in a pair of runs with a single in the first and a double in the fifth.
A lead-off homer by Trent Durrington to open the game accounted for Salt Lake City's other run. Omaha's lone score came on an RBI groundout by Aaron Guiel in the fourth.
The series concludes Sunday at 2 p.m. Salt Lake RHP Matt Wise (9-7, 5.16 ERA) and Omaha RHP Mike MacDougal (7-8, 4.94 ERA) are the scheduled starters.
BEE LINES: Saturday's attendance was 8,845 . . . Members of the 1991 Pioneer League champion Salt Lake Trappers, who are in town for a reunion, were introduced in a pregame ceremony. Manager Nick Belmonte was joined by 13 players.
E-mail: dirk@desnews.com