Witherspoon plates career-high seven

Travis Witherspoon almost doubled his career best in RBIs on Sunday, delivering two homers and a triple while falling a double short of the cycle in the Orem Owlz's 11-1 rout of the visiting Idaho Falls Chukars.

The outfield prospect, selected by the Angels in the 12th round of the 2009 Draft, plated seven runs and scored three times in his sixth game of the young Rookie-level Pioneer League season. Witherspoon's previous career high was four RBIs.

"He's a very gifted athlete with exceptional makeup and aptitude," said Owlz manager Tom Kotchman.

Witherspoon started his day with a solo homer to left field in the first inning. He singled in a run in the third before teeing off again to left with a runner aboard in the fourth. It was his fourth homer of the six-game season.

In the fifth, he cleared the bases with a triple to right field.

"That was the most impressive thing, not the two home runs," Kotchman said. "Some guys get pull-happy."

Orem's veteran skipper is ready to pencil Witherspoon's name into his lineup every day. In 58 games for the Owlz last season, he hit .227 with 37 runs scored and 26 RBIs.

"If he's not in the lineup every day, then something's wrong," Kotchman said. "He's earned that right. He's made a lot of adjustments. He's got a lot more to make.

"Last year he was very raw. He's starting to get unraw. When it all clicks for this young man, he can be like [Major Leaguer] Mike Cameron -- a legitimate center fielder."

Michael Sodders plated two runs and scored one and Nicholas Farnsworth went 3-for-3 with a run scored for Orem.

Owlz starter Carmine Giardina allowed a run on four hits with five strikeouts over four frames. Brian Diemer (2-0) tossed two scoreless frames, giving up two hits and fanning five for the victory.