On an overcast, windy day at Franklin Covey Field, things couldn't have gotten much darker for the Stingers.
Salt Lake closed out an eight-game homestand Tuesday with its sixth defeat of that stretch, this time 10-5 to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox.
Sure, the wind played a factor, blowing several balls that at first appeared catchable into extra-base hits. But the Stingers were hitting with the same wind, and their current lineup is having such a hard time putting wood on the ball that it didn't matter.
The reality is that at the moment, just about everything is going wrong for the Stingers. After getting a rare (lately) respectable effort by a starting pitcher Tuesday, Salt Lake manager Mike Brumley thought his team was in pretty good shape, with his three best relievers fresh.
But the bullpen suffered a thorough letdown, giving up six earned runs in four innings, and Salt Lake stumbled to its 19th loss in 25 games. The Sky Sox's 10 runs left the Stingers with a runs-against total of 74 for the homestand, an average of 9.25 and a sum that Brumley agreed was staggering.
"I don't know if I've ever seen a homestand any higher than that," he said. "I know I haven't."
For much of the game, though, things looked fairly promising for Salt Lake. They jumped on Sky Sox starter Travis Driskill for five runs in the second inning, getting a two-run single from Wil Nieves and a two-run double by Tom Gregorio.
But that was the last time Salt Lake would score, while the Sky Sox steadily chipped away, scoring in four separate innings to finally tie the score in the seventh.
The Stingers looked as if they might jump back into the lead in the eighth, when Jake Thrower led off with a double. He advanced to third on a flyball but ended up stranded there, giving the Sky Sox a reprieve.
"That was huge," Brumley said. "That changes the tempo. When you get out of that, that gives you a little energy."
The Sky Sox parlayed that energy boost into a five-run ninth inning that featured — in order — a walk, three doubles and a triple before an out was recorded. At least a couple of those extra-base hits appeared to be harmless fly balls until a brisk wind carried them to the fence.
While agreeing that the wind aided those hits, Brumley pointed out that the current Salt Lake outfield isn't the fleetest. Centerfielder Barry Wesson is actually a rightfielder, and leftfielder Gary Johnson's wheels are probably best suited to playing designated hitter.
"You really have to have some guys who can fly out there, who can go get those balls," Brumley said. "We don't have real good speed out there."
But Brumley thought the bigger problem today was his pitching staff, which failed to keep the ball down and allowed all those long shots.
"We just haven't been able to get the ball down consistently," he said. "They have to take some accountability and get out there and start learning how to pitch."
NOTES: To fill the roster spot vacated by Adam Riggs, who was called up to Anaheim on Tuesday, infielder Javy Rodriguez joined the Stingers from Class A Rancho Cucamonga. He started at shortstop.
E-mail: rich@desnews.com