Salt Lake defeats Vegas, 4-3

SALT LAKE CITY --- Salt Lake outfielder Brian Buchanan is the son-in-law of John Havlicek. And like the former Boston Celtics great, he seems to have a knack for making the clutch play.

Take Salt Lake's 4-3 victory over the Las Vegas Stars on Sunday night here.

The Stars, thanks to an RBI triple by second baseman Dave Hajek and back-to-back RBI doubles by left fielder James Mouton and designated hitter Eddie Williams, carried a 3-1 lead into the sixth inning with ace Matt Clement on the mound.

But Buchanan cut the lead to 3-2 with a long homer over the 420 sign in center. The Buzz tied the game in the seventh on an unearned run when shortstop Juan Melo dropped a line drive by John Shave, who would come around to score on a two-out single by Scott Stahoviak.

That set the stage for Buchanan and company for a dramatic ninth.

Stars reliever Mike Rossiter (0-1) hit Shave to start the inning, then walked former Basic High star Chris Latham. After shortstop Esteban Beltre sacrificed the runners to second and third, respectively, third baseman Corey Koskie was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Exit Rossiter and enter lefty Al Newman, who struck out the left-handed hitting Stahoviak for the second out of the inning.

Stars manager Jerry Royster then brought in right hander Will Cunnane to face the right-handed hitting Buchanan. Buchanan fouled away seven pitches before knocking a 2-2 pitch into center field to drive in Shave with the game-winning run.

The loss was the third in a row by the Stars to Salt Lake here, all by one run.

Salt Lake starter Travis Baptist and reliever Jeff Harris (4-0) combined to retire the final 13 Las Vegas batters.

The teams conclude their series tonight at Franklin Quest Stadium at 6 p.m. Las Vegas then opens an eight-game homestand at Cashman Field on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. against the Iowa Cubs.

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