Reaching the .500 mark has been a season-long struggle for the Salt Lake Stingers.
The plateau, which has been reached five times and exceeded on only one occasion, once again slipped from their grasp. Tuesday's 8-5 loss to Oklahoma prevented Salt Lake (54-56) from equaling its record for the first time since June 14.
A three-run homer by Mike Lamb with two outs in the ninth proved to be the difference in a game that, in many ways, paralleled the Stingers' entire campaign — an early deficit, a rally, and then a slight slip.
"This team has good character. There's no doubt about that," manager Mike Brumley said of his squad's ability to overcome inconsistencies. " . . . It just didn't happen tonight."
In the first of 12 consecutive games against non-division foes, Salt Lake failed to maintain the success it had gained in recent outings against North Division rivals when the Stingers went 12-3. Even so, Brumley isn't worried. He believes his team is still playing well and will continue to hold its own. They entered the game just 1 1/2 games out of first place.
Salt Lake fell into a 4-0 hole over the first 2 1/2 innings after Ramon Nivar and Jermaine Clark each hit homers and Paul Ottavinia added a sacrifice fly.
The Stingers, however, battled back with four runs in the bottom of the third to pull even. Julio Ramirez began the comeback with a sac fly. Trent Durrington followed with an RBI single and later scored on a two-run, two-out single by Adam Riggs.
The 4-4 tie remained intact until the fifth when Lamb hit the first of his two homers in the contest to put the Redhawks back on top. It lacked staying power, though, as Chone Figgins countered with the first of two triples he hit in the game. An Oklahoma fielding error allowed the speedy infielder to score on the play and tie the score once again.
It set the stage for a dramatic conclusion as well.
After three scoreless innings, Lamb broke the drought when hit a high fastball from Salt Lake reliever Elio Serrano over the centerfield fence.
It capped all scoring in the opener.
The series continues tonight at 7. Salt Lake RHP Matt Hensley (7-9, 5.09 ERA) and Oklahoma RHP Ryan Drese (5-5, 5.31) are the scheduled starters.
BEE LINES: Stingers reliever Doug Nickle (2-2, 1.48 ERA) and Anaheim Angels pitcher Scott Schoeneweis were traded to the Chicago White Sox shortly after the game started. Nickle will report to Triple-A Charlotte . . . RHP Mickey Callaway, who was designated for assignment by Anaheim earlier this week, will likely return to Salt Lake Thursday he clears waivers . . . Attendance was 5,606.
E-mail: dirk@desnews.com