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It sent the Traverse City Beach Bums spiraling into last place in the Central Division.

But, the Bums turned things around and ran off a four-game winning streak in a recent homestand against Slippery Rock that had them threatening to break out of the cellar.

Slippery Rock put the brakes on the Bums' streak with a 7-5 victory over the Bums on Sunday, July 15.

As a result, Traverse City remains stuck in last place with a 19-29 record.

Going into Saturday night's action (July 15), the Bums rested 2 1/2 games behind Rockford, Ill., in last place.

Ryan Gehring picked up the win, and the Bums used three relief pitchers as well, in a 7- 0 rout of the Sliders in Friday night's game at Wuerfel Park.

Gehring went the first five and two-third innings, recording his third win of the season.

Jeff Williams, Bryan Rembisz and Brett Bostelman followed him in succession. Between them, the four gave up a total of just six hits to the Sliders.

The Bums scored five runs in the fifth inning, Jeff Vincent's two-run double the big blow. Ben Ramsey added a single that scored two more runs.

Steve Young and Brad Vericker had two hits apiece to lead a nine-hit attack for the Bums.

Zack Kalter had three hits, and Jeff Brown extended his consecutivegame hitting streak to eight as the Bums defeated the Sliders, 4-2 on Sunday, July 8.

Robbie McClellan started the game and shut the Sliders out on seven hits through the first six innings in registering his fourth win, best on the team. He recorded seven strike outs and did not walk a batter.

Tyler Meigs pitched a perfect ninth for his first save of the season.

Wuerfel Park in Traverse City will be the site for the 2008 Frontier League All-Star Game, it was recently announced by the club.

The game will be played July 15-16, and feature a home run derby and skills competition. The game itself is scheduled for July 16. Hosting the game assures the Bums of four spots on the All-Star Team.

Kalter's home run in the bottom of the ninth inning secured the Bums' 4-3 victory over the Sliders on Monday, July 9, and extended their winning streak to three straight games.

First baseman Sam Orr suffered a deep cut to his head when he collided with Slippery Rock outfielder Jon Dandridge.

He was taken to the hospital, and received 10 stitches to close the wound.

The Bums host the Rockford, Ill., Riverhawks Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday before taking a day off and then embarking on a four-game road trip to Evansville on July 24-26. That's followed by road games at Slippery Rock, Ill., July 27-29. Traverse City returns home for games against Evansville on July 30-31.