Angels score early in win

PROVO — For the second straight night three innings was all the Provo Angels needed to beat the Casper Rockies. The Angels scored 12 runs in the first three innings — seven in the third — to pick up the 14-8 win on Friday.

In the opening game of the series, Provo (12-4) platted nine runs in the first three innings and cruised to a 10-4 win.

The Angels have won three straight games and hold a four-game lead over Idaho Falls and Ogden in the Pioneer League South Division.

If Provo's offense continues to put up numbers like it did on Friday it will be hard to catch during the final month of the season. Every Angel player recorded a base hit or better in the Friday's win. As a team the Angels scored their 14 runs on 18 hits.

Chris Walston led the charge with two doubles and a home run. Nate Sutton added three singles and scored two runs.

After Casper scored a run in the top of the first inning, Provo opened its scoring with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Richard Giannotti led off the game with double to center field. Sutton followed by reaching base on a bunt and Sean Rodriguez was then hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Caleb Maher scored Giannotti when he hit into a double play. Sutton later scored on a double by Josh LeBlanc.

The Angels extended its lead to 5-1 in the second inning thanks to back-to-back singles by Clifton Remole and J.R. Renz. A double by Walston scored Remole and Giannotti followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Renz to score. The final fun of the inning came on an RBI single by Sutton.

After Casper scored two runs in the top of the third, Provo broke the game open by sending 11 batters to the plate in the bottom half of the inning.

Maher and LeBlanc opened the inning with singles. Two batters later, Renz connected on an RBI single to left field to give Provo a 6-3 lead.

Walston followed with a two-run homer over the center field fence to up the lead to 8-3. Later in the inning Sutton singled home Giannotti. The lead quickly became 12-3 after Rodriguez smacked a two run two out blast.

Casper added a run in the fifth and seventh to cut the Angel lead to 12-5. Provo quickly extended its lead to 14-5 after two runs in the seventh. Casper attempted a small rally in the eighth to cut the Angel lead to 14-8.

The two teams conclude its three-game series tonight at 7 p.m. at Miller Park. Provo is on the road for the next week. The Angels return to Miller Park on Aug. 24 against Great Falls.