Teton is 0-10 against Sugar-Salem since April of 2022 but things could change on Monday. The Timberwolves will host the Diggers at 4:00 p.m. The last three games Teton has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
On Saturday, Teton didn't have quite enough to beat Snake River and fell 4-3. That's two games in a row now that the Timberwolves have lost by just one run.
Teton saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Josh Olivas, who went 1-for-3 with one triple, one run, and one RBI. That RBI marked the first that Olivas has brought in this season.
Meanwhile, Sugar-Salem came tearing into Friday's matchup with nine straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 13.8 runs), and they left with even more momentum. Their pitchers stepped up to hand the Cougars a 16-0 shutout. The home team had taken home the W every time these teams have met since May 3, 2024, but that streak is no more.
Will Chappell and Dawson McInelly made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, Chappell pitched one inning while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Meanwhile, McInelly didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit over four innings pitched. The dominant performance also gave Chappell a new career-high in strikeouts (two). At bat, Chappell got on base in three of his four plate appearances with three stolen bases and two runs, while McInelly went 2-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and one stolen base. McInelly is on a roll when it comes to home runs, as he's now launched at least one in each of the last seven games he's played.
In other batting news, Hank Carter and Jack Gardner did most of the damage at the plate: Carter went 2-for-3 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs, while Gardner went 1-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. Those four RBI gave Carter a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Tragen Mattson, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI, one run, and one double.
Sugar-Salem lost a few balls and finished the game with three home runs. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now launched at least two home runs in six consecutive games.
Sugar-Salem pushed their record up to 13-4 with the victory, which was their ninth straight on the road dating back to last season. Those road wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.8 runs on average over those games. As for Teton, their defeat dropped their record down to 2-12.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Teton has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.8 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Sugar-Salem struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 7.2 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Teton might still be hurting after the 12-0 loss they got from Sugar-Salem in their previous matchup last Thursday. Will the Timberwolves have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other baseball content.
