Friday, June 14, 2002 | 8:54 a.m.
Given a choice, the 51s would definitely throw back their 10-4 loss to Salt Lake on Thursday night.
But they would probably throw it into the dugout, over somebody's head or right down the middle so the Stingers could pound it all around Cashman Field.
It was that sort of night for Las Vegas, which allowed a season-high 25 hits, committed three errors and played as if distracted by more pressing matters before a $1 Beer Night crowd of 3,669.
While losing their third in four games against Salt Lake, the 51s continued their maddening home struggles -- they're 19-21 at Cashman, 20-8 on the road -- and surrendered the best record in the Pacific Coast League. They are 39-29, and the Stingers pulled ahead at 40-28.
Almost nothing went right for the 51s. Dennis Springer's knuckleballs weren't knuckling and Salt Lake tagged him for 15 hits and six earned runs in six innings. Reliever Jeff Williams didn't fool anyone, either, giving up 10 hits and three runs in 2 2/3 innings.
With Rick Short getting five hits and Chone Figgins and Keith Johnson four apiece, Salt Lake topped the previous season high against the 51s (24 by Colorado Springs on April 29).
Also, Chris Clapinski tossed a double-play relay into the Salt Lake dugout, first baseman Phil Hiatt dropped an easy foul popup and Brad Tyler's wayward throw from left field led to a run for Salt Lake in the fourth.
Manager Brad Mills came down harder on himself than his players afterward.
"They have to execute, but I have to express that to them better," he said. "I think I have, but I have to do it again. When balls get by us, when our catcher doesn't back up first, when we otherthrow the cutoff man -- we can't afford those kinds of mistakes.
"It's a good ball club we've got, but I have to manage better and we have to play better."
Springer must also regain the form he had before being called up to the Dodgers last month. He had won two straight decisions, including a two-hit shutout at Oklahoma City on May 10, but went stale with the Dodgers. He threw only one inning in 11 days.
Since returning to the 51s on June 1, Springer is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA, allowing 36 hits in 18 2/3 innings.
"He was throwing the ball well, but the knuckleball is a feel type of pitch, and (sitting out) kind of broke up what he had going," Mills said.
The 51s were just as shaky on offense. They mustered five singles and a double, all against starter Matt Hensley, and couldn't exploit eight walks by four Salt Lake pitchers.
The topper for the 51s' frustrating night came when Chin-Feng Chen was ejected after being forced out at second to end the seventh. The Taiwanese prospect hardly speaks English, but was tossed by umpire Geoff Burr when he slammed his batting helmet to the turf in protest.
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