Royals on the Farm 9/8

Rookie -- Idaho Falls: Orem 6, Chukars 5 (Orem leads best-of-3 series 1-0)

SS Moustakas 0-4, BB, 2 K, RS
RF Gonzalez 2-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI, K, 2 RS
1B Robinson 2-4, K, E
CF Ortiz 1-5
2B Evangelho 1-4, RBI, K
LF Seratelli 0-4

Chavez 5 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 4 H, BB, 4 K
J. Hughes 1 2/3 IP, ER, 4 H
Jensen 1 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H, K, HRA -- BS, 1
Holland IP, ER, 2 H, BB, WP -- L, 0-1

The Chukar bullpen sputtered as Orem took game 1 at home and sent Idaho Falls home for game 2 in a must-win situation. The Chukars left the bases loaded in the 2nd and Orem answered with 2 runs off Chris Chavez on 3 hits in the bottom of the frame. O.D. Gonzalez cranked a 2-out, 2-run homer in the 3rd to tie it but Orem regained the lead on a hit and Clint Robinson error in the bottom of the 3rd. Zach Evangelho tied it with an RBI single in the 4th and IF took the lead with 2 runs in the 5th on another Gonzalez 2-run blast. The score was 5-3 into the 7th but Orem showed some resiliency with a run off Joe Hughes on 2 hits. Matt Jensen gave up a game-tying homer to Orem DH Gordon Gronkowski in the 8th and the Owlz put 2 on with 2 out in the 9th off Greg Holland. Holland gave up a walkoff single to end the IF collapse. Five Owlz had 2-hit games and P Jordan Towns got the win with a perfect inning of relief.

The series shifts to Idaho Falls tonight for game 2. No starters announced on the team site. Clint Robinson was recently named Pioneer League MVP after hitting .336 with 15 HR and 66 RBI in 67 games.