After solving one mystery, the Salt Lake Stingers embarked upon another.
Monday's 11-4 loss to New Orleans left the once-hot Stingers searching for clues. The second-longest winning streak in franchise history (eight games) has been followed by consecutive lopsided losses to the Zephyrs.
"They played a solid two games and we didn't. We were careless on defense — you know, doing some things that it takes to lose games," said Stingers manager Mike Brumley, who vented his frustrations to the team in a closed-door meeting after the game. "It reminded me of the first three weeks in April when we just didn't look like we were competing.
"But," he added, "We're better than what we showed."
The latest setback came after Salt Lake finally figured out pitcher Ron Villone. The well-traveled left-hander, whose PCL career dates back to 1995 and includes stints with Tacoma, Las Vegas and Tucson, entered the game with 13 consecutive scoreless innings against the franchise.
It swelled to 16 before Keith Johnson put an end to the improbable mastery. An RBI single in the fourth inning scored Robb Quinlan and gave the Stingers a 1-0 advantage in the series finale.
Though it represented a breakthrough, the run was far too little to withstand a New Orleans power surge later in the game.
Fueled by Taylorsville product John Buck, who went 4-for-5 and drove in four runs by game's end, the Zephyrs fired back. They scored 11 runs over the fifth, sixth and eighth innings to seize control.
Eric Bruntlett opened the response with a two-run homer off the centerfield screen. Stingers outfielder Julio Ramirez leaped up and nearly caught the ball, but it fell just beyond his reach.
It cost Salt Lake the only lead it held.
The Stingers didn't score again until New Orleans had put six more runs on the board. Royce Huffman and David Matranga each had two-run doubles in the outburst, and Bruntlett and Buck contributed run-scoring hits to make it 8-1.
It stayed that way until the seventh when Adam Riggs drove in a pair after an RBI single by Ramirez allowed Salt Lake to cut into the deficit.
Any hopes of a comeback, however, were dashed in the eighth when Buck belted a bases-loaded triple to end all scoring in the contest.
The former Utah prep star said his performance was icing on the cake.
"It was fun just to come to the plate," said Buck, who left 60 tickets for family and friends each outing.
Salt Lake (23-26) opens a four-game series at Las Vegas tonight. Stingers RHP Steve Green (3-2, 4.30 ERA) and 51s LHP Andrew Lorraine (3-2, 4.23 ERA) are the scheduled starters.
BEE LINES: Salt Lake's next home game is June 5 against Memphis . . . Infielder Chone Figgins, who was promoted to Anaheim Saturday, is scheduled to accompany the world champion Angels on a visit to the White House today . . . Former major leaguer Gary Gaetti is the hitting coach for New Orleans . . . Attendance was 9,899.
E-MAIL: dirk@desnews.com