Ryan Budde can relate to the angst he sensed in the Sky Sox dugout, but he was happy to compound the issue.

Budde, Salt Lake’s backup catcher, kept the Sky Sox reeling with three hits and four RBIs, sending Colorado Springs to its seventh loss in eight games with a 7-4 win on Sunday despite a second home run in as many days for Jason Giambi.

“Last couple of years we’ve been on top the whole time and it gets into August and maybe you lose some of that intensity,” said Budde, a .209-hitting backup catcher who changed the game in the fourth inning with a three-run home run against Brandon Hynick. “I kind of see that in them. Maybe they’re a little lax out there. I think they’ll be all right, but I hope they keep losing so we can get back in it.”

The Sky Sox — leading their Pacific Coast League division by 7½ games when the current homestand began on Aug. 22 — are now tied with Tacoma and just 3½ games up on Salt Lake after the Bees took four of five at Security Service Field.

The Sky Sox have four home games remaining against last-place Portland before heading to Tacoma for four games to close the season.

“Maybe we’ll switch the lineup around tomorrow, see if we can get something going offensively,” Sky Sox manager Stu Cole said. “We have to find a way to get some big hits with guys in scoring position.”

Despite outhitting the Bees 10-9 on Sunday, the Sky Sox couldn’t capitalize on a number of chances. Twice they loaded the bases with nobody out and came away with just one run. On the flip side, Salt Lake scored seven times despite no hits from their vaunted 3-4-5 hitters.

“You get frustrated, especially when you get into a losing streak like this and the other team comes in and hits you around like they did,” Cole said. “You want to give them credit for what they did but also we didn’t play particularly well. We gave them too many opportunities and made too many mistakes.”

While his new team seems to be falling apart around him, Giambi continues to roll. His solo home run in the fifth off Brad Knox was a no-doubt blast to right. Giambi is batting .438 with a .571 on-base percentage in five games.With no designated hitter today, Cole said Giambi will play first base in what will likely be his final game with the Sky Sox.

“I’ll just do whatever needs to be done,” Giambi said. “I’m in shape, so it doesn’t really matter.”

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