Owlz fall into tie for division lead

OREM — Whatever momentum and advantage the Orem Owlz might have had failed — as did their bats — in Tuesday night's 3-2 home loss to the Casper Rockies.

The Owlz (21-14) fell into a tie for first place with Idaho Falls in the Pioneer League's Southern Division standings, with the season's first half concluding Friday night and a postseason berth afforded to the first-half winner.

In the wake of Monday's 10-inning victory before a record crowd of 4,605, division-leading Orem was riding a five-win streak, and cellar-dweller Casper (14-21) a four-loss slump while batting a mere .057 in their last 10 games.

Seemingly a good chance to maintain the slim division lead.

But nine innings later, the Owlz had no one to blame but themselves — Tuesday night's loss was their own doing.

Or, better put, their own undoing.

Like 14 strikeouts at the plate. Like nine base runners stranded. Like three costly errors. Like managing a meager single after posting a 2-0 fourth-inning lead.

"We're not the 1929 Yankees swinging at the ball," said Orem manager Tom Kotchman, bemoaning an offense that upped its league-worst strikeout total to 314 and the league's second-worst batting average.

Casper used a two-run seventh to turn a one-run deficit into a one-run lead that stood up.

That came after Orem starter David Herndon went six innings, allowing just two hits and one run — Jorge Sandes' fifth-inning solo home run — while striking out a personal-best seven batters. But a strict pitch-count limitation ended his night there.

In Casper's seventh, Hector Gomez greeted Owlz reliever Aaron Cook with a solo homer of his own over the left-field fence. Jay Cox then got on thanks to one of the Orem errors and after advancing on a groundout and fly ball scored as Sandes offered another rude welcome to reliever PJ Connelly with an RBI single, good for the eventual game-winner.

Orem scored in the bottom of the first, as Tadd Brewer beat out a high infield chopper and reached second on Casper starter Esmil Rogers' wild pitch. He then scored when Gomez, the Rockies shortstop, heaved his throw on Chris Pettis' grounder well past first baseman Mike Milliron.

Orem added its second run in the fourth, Abel Nieves leading off with a single and then scoring on Peter Bourjos' sixth triple of the season.

Cook (1-1) suffered the loss, giving up Gomez's homer and putting Cox on board. Casper reliever Drew Shetrone (1-0) picked up the win.

The three-game series ends tonight at 7, with Idaho Falls coming to town next to meet the Owlz.

---

E-mail: taylor@desnews.com