Orem Owlz starter Joe Melioris once again started out rough, giving up three quick runs before settling down. In his last home appearance, he was just about identical.
In that same start, he overcame a less than stellar beginning before digging in to put away the next 11 batters.
Tonight he one-upped that performance, retiring 12 straight as the Owlz defeated the Idaho Falls Chuckars 9-5.
Orem’s hot hitting continued in force tonight as the Owlz scored nine runs on 11 hits. Unlike last night, when DH C.J. Cron hit three home runs, Tuesday’s scoring came on solid contact and good base running.
“Last night CJ hit three home runs and could have had a fourth. Tonight it was a lot of guys getting the job done,” said Owlz manager Tom Kotchman. “When you win it’s a team effort and when you lose, it’s a lot of guys not doing what they know how to.”
After allowing three runs in the top of the first, Orem responded with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead and calm the nerves of the home crowd fans.
Aaron Tullo came in relief for Melioris in the fifth and quickly shut down the Chuckars attempt for a rally.
“Tullo came in and did a good job,” Kotchman said. “He helped out Joe to get us out of that inning, he just got himself into some trouble in the next inning.”
In the sixth Tullo hit a batter, gave up a single, and hit another batter before Kotchman came out and handed the ball over to reliever Shane Waller.Waller gave up two runs with the bases loaded to bring the score within one run at 6-5 in favor of the Owlz.
“[Waller] couldn’t find his spots at first and walked a guy, then gave up a couple runs, but then he settled down and found it,” Kotchman said.
Waller found his command and closed out a bases loaded sixth, with a brief scare as a potential grand slam hooked just foul down the left base line.
The Owlz would tack on two runs in the seventh and one in the eighth which would turn out to be insurance runs as Idaho Falls would not score again.
Closer Danny Reynolds recorded his fifth save of the year and the win was picked up by Waller. Willian Avinazar was tagged with the loss for the Chuckars in his rehab assignment.
By Assistant Sports Editor Jonathan Boldt
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