The Chukars try to return to .500 and put the skids on a three-game losing streak tonight in the second game of a five-game series with the Orem Owlz. After winning the Pioneer League South Division in the first half, the Owlz have posted a 21-7 record. Orem’s status as the league juggernaut was only reinforced last night when the Owlz pinned 10 runs on Chukars pitching in the first three innings.
Eric Hosmer, the No. 3 pick in the 2008 draft, will be in street clothes tonight because his agent, Scott Boras, is making a stink about the contract of another client, Pedro Alvarez, the No. 2 pick. Hosmer’s contract apparently related because if Alvarez singed past the deadline, Hosmer did as well. Take all this with a grain of salt for the moment. We’ll get to the bottom of it.
Chukars lefty Ivor Hodgson hopes to fare better tonight. Hodgson is 2-5 despite a more than respectable 3.41 ERA. Then again, win-loss record isn’t the most useful stat. Hodgson has given up one run in each of his last three starts, a stretch spanning 15.2 innings.
Will Smith starts for Orem. My inner fight to resist the urge to make terrible allusions to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air may turn into the subplot of this game thread. Smith is 7-2 in 12 starts with a 3.54 ERA. Further proof that win-loss record and ERA are terrible ways to evaluate pitching.Orem
Darwin Perez-S-SS
Ivan Contreras-S-2B
Roberto Lopez-R-1B
Luis Jimenez-R-DH
Donato Giovanatto-R-LF
Angel Castillo-R-RF
Tyson Auer-R-CF
Jon Townsend-R-3B
Beau Brooks-L-C
Will Smith-L-P
Chukars
Patrick Norris-S-CF
J.D. Alfaro-R-SS
Antonio Jimenez-S-3B
Shawn Griffin-S-LF
Juan Graterol-R-DH
Tito Espinosa-R-1B
Salvador Perez-R-C
Neder Severino-R-RF
Alwini Perez-L-2B
Ivor Hodgson-L-P
Top 1-Darwin Perez leads off the game with a triple into the right field corner. Contreras hits a come-backer to Hodgson, who completes the force at first after looking Perez back to third. Perez scores on a wild pitch. Lopez flies out to Norris in center. Luis Jimenez doubles to the gap in left-center. Giovanatto flies out to Griffin in left.
Chukars 0, Orem 1
Bot 2-Norris grounds out to Contreras at second, and Alfaro reaches when the third b aseman, Jon Townsend, mishandles a routine ground ball. Alfaro steals second, then advances to third when Brooks’ throw winds up in center field. Antonio Jimenez strikes out looking. Alfaro scores on a passed ball. For those scoring at home, Alfaro’s run came on two errors, a stolen base and a passed ball. Griffin grounds out to Perez at short.
Chukars 1, Orem 1
Top 2-Hodgson mows down Castillo in three pitches. Auer’s grounder hops high off the mound and into center for a single. Townsend flies out to Griffin in left. Auer advances to second on a wild pitch. Brooks strikes out swinging.
Bot 2-Graterol goes down swinging in three pitches, and Espinosa grounds out to Contreras at second. Salvador Perez grounds out to short.
Top 3-Contreras hits a grounder to Alfaro who initiates a pretty 6-4-3 double play. Lopez doubles to left-center. Luis Jimenez grounds out to Antonio Jimenez at third.
Bot 3-Severino flies out to deep right. Alwin Perez strikes out looking. Norris strikes out swinging.
Top 4-Gionavatto strikes out looking at a full-count fastball. Castillo hits a rocket that Antonio Jimenez snares for out No. 2. Hogdson strikes out Auer in three pitches for his fourth K on the night.
Bot 4-Alfaro grounds out weakly to Lopez at first for the unassisted putout. Antonio Jimenez singles up the middle for the Chukars first hit of the game, then gets picked off between first and second by Smith. Griffin singles betwen the third baseman and shortstop. Graterol strikes out for the second time.
Top 5-Townsend singles to right, and Brooks walks. Darwin Perez singles to load the bases for Contreras, who brings home Townsend with a sacrifice fly to center. Lopez flies out to center. Luis Jimenez rips a line drive right at Antonio Jimenez at third.
Chukars 1, Orem 2
Bot 5-Espinosa grounds out to Contreras at second, and Salvador Perez dougles to center. Severino flies out to center. Alwin Perez strikes out swinging.
Top 6-Righty Justin Garcia in to pitch for Hodgson.
Hodgson’s line: 5 IP, 6 hits, 2 ER, 4 K, 2 BB.
Gionavatto’s single to left turns into a triple when the ball takes a sideways hop past Griffin. Castillo doubles home Gionavatto, and Auer lines out to second. Townsend grounds out to third. Brooks strikes out swinging.
Chukars 1, Orem 3
Bot 6-Again, Norris makes good contact, but his grounder goes right to Contreras at second. Alfaro pops out to the catcher, Brooks, in foul territory behind home plate. Antonio Jimenez’s chopper is handled by Brooks for an easy out.
Top 7-The home scorer generously gives Darwin a bunt single even though Garcia’s throw, which sailed wide of first, would have beat the runner to first had it been on line. Garcia strikes out Contreras swinging. Lopez pops out to Alfaro in shallow center. Luis Jimenez flies out to Norris in center.
Bot 7-Righthander Reyes Dorado in to pitch for Smith.
Smith’s line: 6 IP, 1 run, 0 ER, 3 hits, 6 K, 0 BB.
Griffin strikes out swinging. Graterol hits the ball hard, but right to Giovanatto in left for out No. 2. Espinosa strikes otu swinging.
Top 8-Giovanatto leads off the inning with a double to right, then Castillo brings him home with a triple to the wall in left-center. Auer grounds out to Jimenez at third. Townsend hits a grounder to Jimenez who throws home to beat Castillo at the plate. Townsend goes to second on a wild pitch. The umpire loses track of the count, so after Brooks walks, he’s brought back to the plate, where he strikes out looking. Sombrero! Cha cha!
Chukars 1, Orem 4
Bot 8-Salvador Perez grounds out to short. Severino pops up to Contreras in shallow right. Perez wills a single through the right side of the infield for just the Chukars’ fourth hit. Norris grounds out to second.
Top 9-James Thompson, a righthander, in to pitch.
Thompson strikes out Darwin Perez swinging. Contreras gets on with a bunt single. Luis Jimenez breaks his bat hitting into a 4-6-3 double play.
Bot 9-Lefty Andrew Taylor in to pitch for Dorado.
Alfaro pops out to the catcher, Brooks. Jimenez hits a long fly just inches on the foul side of the home run pole, then strikes out. Griffin grounds out to short.
Final score: Chukars 1, Orem 4
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