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Before fireworks lit up the corner of West Temple and 1300 South, Salt Lake and Colorado Springs traded their own booming shots.

The Sky Sox edged out a 9-8 win at Spring Mobile Ballpark, but the lead see-sawed several times on Saturday night.

The go-ahead score was decidedly muted — an RBI single in the top of the seventh — but the ebb and flow didn't disappoint the packed crowd of 15,411.

Take, for example, Colorado Springs' outburst in the top of the fourth. After opening the inning with a walk, double and RBI groundout, the Sky Sox (68-60) singled in four consecutive at-bats — a small-ball affair that turned in four runs and a 6-2 lead.

Or the Bees' response in the fifth, a five-run inning that rested on some big bats. Starting off the festivities was catcher John Hester's shot to the warning track, a two-run triple that tied the game. Three at-bats later, designated hitter Cory Aldridge hammered a home run to nudge Salt Lake (66-62) ahead 8-6.

Colorado Springs deflated that cushion quickly. Catcher Omir Santos led off the sixth and fell behind on an 0-2 count; two pitches later, he sent the ball on a beeline for left field for a solo shot. The Sky Sox connected on a pair of doubles to knot the game before taking the lead an inning later.

"We held the lead," said Salt Lake manager Keith Johnson. "In that respect, [the loss] is a little frustrating."

The Bees entered Saturday with a 12-4 record in August — topping the Pacific Coast League this month and keeping playoff hopes alive.

"Every game the rest of the way is important," Johnson said. "We've still got an uphill battle if we're talking about the playoffs."

Pioneer League

Mustangs 3, Raptors 1 • Ogden tied the game in Billings 1-1 in the top of the seventh but couldn't muster any more runs, eventually losing 3-1.

Brewers 10, Owlz 6 • Orem lost its early lead at home when Helena knocked in eight runs in the top of the eighth inning. —

Storylines Sky Sox 9, Bees 8

R Salt Lake cycles through five pitchers and allows its highest opponent run total this month.

• Starter Brad Mills gives up 11 hits and all eight runs, striking out three in five innings pitched.