Arredondo pitches the Owlz to a much-needed victory

OREM — Mired in a four-game losing streak, and stuck at the bottom of the division standings, the Orem Owlz needed a strong pitching performance to turn things around.

They got one Wednesday as starter Jose Arredondo pitched six scoreless innings and led the Owlz to a decisive 6-0 shutout of the Casper Rockies.

"Starting pitching sets the tone," said Orem manager Tom Kotchman. "Arredondo was pretty good tonight. When you're not scoring many runs, it helps to have a performance like that."

Arrendondo surrendered three hits and didn't issue any walks to improve to 2-0 on the season. For the game, the Rockies totaled just five hits.

Orem (6-10) remains in last place in the Pioneer League South Division. Casper (7-9) is now one game ahead of the Owlz.

Rockies starter Radhames Manzueta set the Owlz down in order through the first three innings, but in the fourth frame, Orem managed to get to Manzueta. Hainley Statia drew a walk to open the inning and ended up scoring from third on a passed ball.

The Owlz grabbed a 1-0 lead without a base hit.

But the hits soon came for the Owlz as Dallas Morris doubled with two outs, then scored on a single by Brett Martinez.

In the fifth, Patrick Reilly and Josh Cowles recorded back-to-back singles. After Stantrel Smith flied out, Statia singled to score Reilly. Cowles and Statia also scored before the inning was over to stake a 5-0 advantage.

The Owlz, who had just one extra base hit all night, added another run in the eighth.

Kotchman is hoping his team can build off of Wednesday's win. "We've got to start playing better," he said.

Reilly collected two of Orem's seven hits while Cowles scored twice. Kotchman credited his team's defense for helping keep the Rockies off the scoreboard.

The Owlz and Rockies conclude their three-game series tonight at 7.

NOTES: Announced attendance was 1,732 . . . Last weekend, the Owlz lost their ace reliever, Kevin Lynch, to the Triple-A affiliate in Salt Lake. Orem will benefit from the addition of Mike Pete, a left-handed reliever who pitched for Florida in the recently completed College World Series, Kotchman said . . . Kotchman, who injured his knee a couple of weeks ago, said he will have surgery after the season. However, if he does further damage to the knee, he could go under the knife sooner. Doctors have warned him not to throw any more during batting practice.

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