Orem edges the Idaho Falls to take 1-0 series advantage

OREM — Regular-season records mean nothing when the postseason begins, but it's an intangible that can help a team in comeback situations.

The Orem Owlz know this firsthand as they used Jay Brossman's single in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Idaho Falls Chukars 6-5 in Game 1 of the Pioneer League Southern Division playoffs.

Brossman's second RBI of the night was his most important — it scored Anel De Los Santos from third and gave Orem the win. De Los Santos led off the ninth with a single. A wild pitch moved him into scoring position and an Andrew Romine ground-out put him on third.

Gordie Gronkowski tied the game at five-all in the eighth when he uncharacteristically hit an opposite-field home run over the right-field fence.

De Los Santos kept Orem in it in the seventh with a single that scored Julio Perez. Perez tripled in the previous at-bat to get himself in position for the run.

All five of the Chukars' runs were charged to Orem starter Jordan Walden, who lasted five innings.

O.D. Gonzalez's two home runs brought four of those scores in. Gonzalez got his first in the third after Mike Moustakas walked; his second came in the fifth with a shot to center.

Orem got on the board first in the second. Gronkowski and Jeremy Moore started off the inning with singles, and Hector Estrella's bunt moved them over one base. Perez cleared them off the bases with a two-RBI double.

The Owlz took the lead again in the third after Idaho Falls tied the game in the top half of the inning from Zach Evangelho's RBI single. DeAndre Miller singled and advanced to second on Chukars first baseman Clint Robinson's throwing error. Romine laid down a bunt to move Miller to third with one out. Brossman's sacrifice fly to left was deep enough to let Miller score.

The best-of-three series moves to Idaho Falls for Game 2 today.