OREM — Runs, hits and a shutout victory - all good for what ails a baseball team.
And the Orem Owlz have been ailing of late, what with a five-loss slump, an 0-3 start of the second half of the Pioneer League season, a propensity to unsuccessfully play catch-up and a major disappearing act at the plate.
All that changed Wednesday night at UVSC stadium, as the Owlz snapped its skid with a breakout seventh inning and pitchers Daniel Hawkins and Rafael Cruz combined for a seven-hit shutout in Orem's 5-0 victory over the Casper Rockies.
Orem improves to 19-23 overall and 1-3 in the second-half standings, while Casper falls to 23-19 and 3-1.
The Owlz collected all five runs in the seventh, initiated by Mark Trumbo's single to left, with Greg Dini's one-out double scoring Trumbo from first. Anderson Rosario reached first - and Dini third - on a passed-ball third strike, meaning Josh Cowles' towering home run over the leftfield fence off Rockies reliever Ross Hipke (1-1) was good for three RBI and a 4-0 lead.
Two batters later, Mark Albano added a solo shot for Orem's final run.
Owlz manager Tom Kotchman was as anxious to talk about Orem's pitching and defense - no runs, no errors, seven inconsequential hits and Hawkins working out of two bases-loaded jams in the first five innings.
"If they don't score, you can't lose," he said. "You can tie if lightning comes or the game is called or whatever, but you can't lose."
The Rockies loaded the bases with one out in the first inning, with Kotchman worried. "We get behind, and we haven't been scoring."
Hawkins escaped that and a bases-loaded, two-out scenario in the fifth, allowing four hits and four walks against five strikeouts in his five-inning effort. Cruz continued the stand, give up three hits in four innings for his first decision of the season.
Meanwhile, the much-needed victory wasn't a cure-all for Kotchman's Owlz, who have been battling the flu. Shortstop Hainley Statia was sent home before the game and outfielder Patrick Reilley was throwing up in the dugout during the game.
Kotchman kept Statia off the bus — in part to give him rest and in part to keep him from infecting the team - and planned to purchase an airline ticket for the infielder to make tonight's game in Idaho Falls.
"I just hope my wife doesn't read the Visa bill," Kotchman quipped.
E-mail: taylor@desnews.com