PROVO — It was a night of fireworks Wednesday at the 2004 home opener for the Provo Angels.
The pre-game fireworks occurred when a Zions Bank official broke his leg while throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, which delayed the start of the contest 30 minutes. Sparks continued as the Angels and visiting Idaho Falls Chukars combined for 25 hits and 23 runs. A post-game pyrotechnics show celebrated Provo's eventual 12-11 victory that evens the Angels Pioneer League record at 3-3.
The Angels broke through first with three runs in second on five line drive singles. But the lead didn't last long as the Chukars tied the game with three in the third. Matt Ferrara led off with a blast over the left-field fence. Idaho Falls then took a page from Provo's book by stringing together four straight singles to push across the other two.
It looked like the Angels were en route to a rout when they put a five-spot on the board in the fourth to take an 8-3 lead. One run scored on a Chukars' error and another on a Ryan Leahy single, but the key blow was a three-run homer deep over the center-field fence by switch-hitter Billy Boyer — the Provo second baseman who had a brief stint in Salt Lake this season.
Idaho Falls didn't waste any time in getting back in the game with four in the fourth to close to within one run. Provo starter Ricardo Requena, who pitched well for two innings, left the game after walking two and hitting a batter in the fourth. The Chukars capitalized by scoring a run on a sacrifice fly, another on a booted grounder and two more on a single by first-round draft choice Billy Butler.
The Chukars took a 9-8 lead with two fifth-inning runs. One scored on an RBI single and the second on a Ferrara sacrifice fly. The Angels tied the game 9-9 in the bottom half when Andrew Toussaint, a 13th-round pick out of Southern A & M, hit a towering solo-shot that landed on the road near the Marriott Center parking lot.
Idaho Falls went up 10-9 in the seventh on what should have been an inning-ending ground ball. Ed Lucas singled, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored when Angels shortstop Ryan Leahy made an errant two-out throw to first.
But Leahy came back with a one-out single in eighth, his third hit of the game. A walk and an infield singled loaded the bases. The game tying run scored when Chukars first baseman Brad Hayes booted a grounder. The go-ahead run scored on a sacrifice fly by J.R. Renz and the insurance run scored when the outfield throw skidded into the Angels dugout.
Angels closer Mitch Arnold, the big 6-foot-9 fastballer, picked up his second save despite allowing a run in the ninth - with the Chukars stranding the tying and go-ahead runs on second and third. Chris Waters earned his first win in relief.
GAME NOTES: The Angels organization signed five more draft picks this week, but according to Dave Jacobsen, general manager of the Provo team, none of the new signees are expected to play in Utah this season. The Provo Angels currently have 34 players on their roster, 17 of which are pitchers, and if anything players will be moved elsewhere in the next few weeks. . . . Wednesday's attendance was 2,075. The two teams play the second of four games tonight at 7 p.m. at Larry Miller Field at BYU.
E-mail: jimr@desnews.com