This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
There have been two constants during Salt Lake's losing streak. When the Bees hit, they don't pitch. Lately, when they pitch, they don't hit.
Monday, the second invariant reared its ugly head. Salt Lake pitchers, especially starter Bear Bay, could not have thrown better as Colorado Springs handed the Bees their sixth consecutive defeat, 2-1, before 8,793 at Spring Mobile Ballpark.
"It was one of those frustrating nights," Salt Lake manager Keith Johnson said. "Our pitchers did a good job tonight. It was a good ball game."
Bay (8-10) picked up the defeat despite allowing just two earned runs in 5 2⁄3 innings. It was the sixth time this season that the right-handed pitcher had completed a quality start only to not get the decision or be tagged with the loss.
Relievers Ryan Brasier, Scott Bulger and Michael Kohn continued Bay's good work, allowing just one hit during the next 3 1⁄3. But Salt Lake was 1-of-8 with runners in scoring position.
Jeremy Moore flied out with runners on first and second in the eighth, while Cole Armstrong sent a ball to the warning track with a runner on first in the ninth.
Sizzling Navarro
Efren Navarro has been as hot as his native home, Las Vegas. That is, he could fry an egg on his bat.
During Navarro's last 11 games coming into Monday's contest against Colorado Springs, the Salt Lake first baseman was batting a robust .479 with six home runs and 13 runs batted in.
He's hitting .593 over his last seven games. For good measure, Navarro also leads all PCL first basemen in fielding percentage.
The 50th-round draft choice, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games Monday with a single in the second inning, has walloped a career-high 12 homers in 2011, all coming after July 2. His run of eight consecutive games with an extra-base hit was halted Monday.
Twitter: @tribmarty —
Bees' woes continue
R Salt Lake loses for the sixth consecutive game and 13th time in its past 15 games.
• Bees pitchers combine to allow two runs on eight hits.
• Salt Lake first baseman Efren Navarro extends his hitting streak to 11 games. He's hitting .593 over his past seven games.