Owlz walk off with three-run 9th
Published on August 22, 2013 under Pioneer League (PL)
Northern Colorado Owlz News Release
OREM - Through the first eight innings of Wednesday night's game at the Home of the Owlz, the Orem Owlz sent the minimum three batters to the plate five times and sent four batters to the plate three times. In the 9th, five batters reached for the home team before it recorded the first out, and the Owlz plated three runs to overcome a 3-1 deficit for their second walk-off win of the season.
The Owlz won for the third time when trailing after the 8th this season, and remain two games ahead of the Idaho Falls Chukars in the Pioneer South second half standings.
Brewers (35-24, 12-9 Second Half, 20-17 Pioneer North) reliever Estevenson Encarnacion began the bottom of the 9th with a 3-0 count to Kody Eaves before hitting the Orem second baseman with a pitch and giving up an 0-2 single to Jose Rondon. Cal Towey swung at the first pitch of his at-bat and hit the ball sharply up the first-base line for a two-RBI triple to tie the game at three. The Brewers opted for a five-man infield when the Owlz (33-25, 13-7 Second Half, 20-16 Pioneer South) loaded the bases with no outs, and got a strikeout before Eric Aguilera's game-winning sacrifice fly to left.
"The first pitch was down and in, and I was determined not to be late on it," Towey said.
Orem's third baseman also excelled at the hot corner by making all three outs of a three-groundout 3rd for the Brewers. He took part in six consecutive outs from the final out of the 2nd to the second out of the 4th.
"I didn't give too much thought to it in the moment," Towey said. "I was just focused on making the plays."
Arjenis Fernandez and David Otterman dueled to a pair of no decisions as Wednesday night's starters. Fernandez allowed one earned run on a two-out double by Jose Pena in the 2nd inning, and gave up five hits alongside two strikeouts in five innings overall. Michael Fish answered with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the 2nd for one of Orem's two hits against Otterman through his four innings and one of Orem's three hits through the first eight innings.
Kyle McGowin retired five of the first six batters he faced prior to a two-out rally and two-RBI single by Nathan Orf to give the Brewers a 3-1 lead in the 7th. Michael Smith struck out one in the 8th and Garrett Bush (W, 1-2) struck out two in a 1-2-3 9th to earn his first professional victory. Bush has allowed only one earned run in his last nine outings and has struck out multiple batters in each of those appearances (21 strikeouts in 14.1 innings).
The Owlz and Brewers play the second of a three-game set tomorrow at the Home of the Owlz with a 7:05 p.m. MDT first pitch. To listen live for free, go to audio.oremowlz.com.
Pioneer League Stories from August 22, 2013
- Mustangs Outlast, Sweep Raptors - Ogden Raptors
- Raptors Lose Fifth Straight on Walk-Off Single - Ogden Raptors
- Mustangs Slam Raptors - Ogden Raptors
- Mustangs Turn Three Errors into Six Unearned Runs in Win - Ogden Raptors
- Powerful Palka Promoted - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Big 5th Carries Rockies Past Osprey - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Owlz walk off with three-run 9th - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Chukars Continue Road Streak with 10-1 Win - Idaho Falls Chukars
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