Colorado Springs base runner Jeff Salazar beats the tag of Sidewinders pitcher Adam Bass at home in the sixth inning of their PCL game at Tucson Electric Park on Tuesday night.

lindsay a. miller / Arizona Daily Star

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RANCHO RESORT
MAINTANANCE POSITION

During this season, Sidewinders reliever Doug Slaten has blitzed through Double-A, posted a fractional ERA in Triple-A and made himself a candidate for a September call-up to the big leagues.

But he does not consider his rise meteoric. More like overdue.

Two years ago, Slaten was slogging through his fifth professional season, having been sent from Double-A El Paso to Single-A South Bend. He had suffered recent injuries to his shoulder and knee and faced questions about whether he could ever make it as a starting pitcher.

"It's been a long road," Slaten said. "I spent a long time in A ball. The lowest point in my career was going to South Bend in '04. I started off in El Paso and stunk it up for over a month."

Slaten posted a 10.00 ERA in 11 appearances for El Paso. Once he left, though, Slaten said, "it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me.''

Slaten, who converted to the bullpen at the end of the 2003 season, then restarted his rise toward the majors.

He finished the 2004 season with a 2.25 ERA at South Bend over 36 games, then had a 4.26 ERA in 58 games for Double-A Tennessee last season. He had eight saves and a 1.88 ERA for Tennessee in 40 games this season before joining the Sidewinders on July 19.

Sidewinders pitching coach Mike Parrott, who coached Slaten as a starter early in his career at Single-A Lancaster, started seeing a relief pitcher who was throwing from the stretch, had tightened up his curveball and was much less erratic.

The Diamondbacks front office noticed, too. Slaten was placed on Arizona's 40-man roster in the offseason to protect him from other clubs.

"The bullpen was where he really created some interest in himself, and that's why he's gotten on the 40-man roster,'' Parrott said. "I don't know if, as a starter, he was able to maintain delivery long enough. He strictly pitches from the stretch, which seems to help his command. But that's very hard to maintain as a starter.''

Sidewinders manager Chip Hale added that the relief role may be better suited for Slaten.

"He's got some issues with injuries, but when we shortened him up in relief, he did a really good job," Hale said. "He's been lights out for us."

Slaten is 2-1 with a 0.53 ERA in 15 appearances for the Sidewinders, crediting a better knowledge of pitching and an enjoyment of the routine relievers have.

"That's why I've excelled at it," Slaten said. "It's a better routine for me. Knowing you might pitch every day, you have to be ready.''

Now, the only question is what role Slaten might best maximize his chances to reach and stay in the majors. Hale indicated that facing lefties could be his best bet for the future.

"His numbers are outstanding, and he's been really good against left-handed hitting," Hale said. "That's kind of what we're grooming him for at this point, to be a left-handed specialist. He's really come a long way."

Inside pitch

● Catcher J.D. Closser led the Sky Sox past Tucson 6-4 Tuesday by going 2 for 5 with three RBIs, including a solo homer in the second inning and two-run double in the third. Scott Hairston hit a two-run homer to left-center in the sixth to pull the Sidewinders within 5-4.

● Hale said he didn't know if the Sidewinders would receive left-handed starter Evan MacLane, the Mets' prospect who was traded to the Diamondbacks on Tuesday in the Shawn Green deal. MacLane was 9-8 with a 3.86 ERA in 20 games (all starts) for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides this season.

● Sacramento completed a four-game sweep of Fresno, winning 2-1 Tuesday to cut the Sidewinders' lead to 5 1/2 games. The River Cats will host Tucson for four games next week.