Freddy Fermin Shines in Opener

    Freddy Fermin is one of the smallest guys on the Chukars roster (5'10") but he came up big in the Chukars season opener at Grand Junction. He paced Idaho Falls to victory, playing exceptionally on both sides of the ball. Fermin set the tone for his stellar game in the first inning, when he threw out the Rockies' first base runner Shael Mendoza, who was attempting to steal second base.
            "I thought he handled our pitching staff well," said Jeff Suppan, the Chukars' pitching coach and former MLB starting pitcher. "He made a couple of good plays behind the plate. He blocked some tough pitches in the dirt and showed off his tremendous arm strength."
            Fermin's solid game didn't just come behind the plate, but at it. He led off the sixth inning with a single and came across to score on a bunt single by shortstop Offerman Collado. But the best was yet to come. Freddy walked in his first plate appearance and put the ball in play every at-bat thereafter, finishing the game 2- 4. His second hit was the turning point of the game.
            The Chukars led from the third inning until the bottom of the ninth, when the Rockies plated two runs to tie the game at 6-6. The game went to extras and Fermin had a chance to be the hero in the top of the tenth.
            First baseman Robby Rinn, who hit a two-run home run earlier in the game, led off the inning with a walk. In the following at-bat, third baseman Tyler Straub grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. With two outs, left-fielder Vance Vizcaino singled and stole second base. Logan Gray proceeded to walk and the stage was set for Fermin. Two on, two out, top of the tenth inning.
            Fermin, who had shined all night, didn't let his team down. He smacked a triple over the head of Grand Junction centerfielder Pedro Gonzalez, driving in both baserunners in the process.
            "He came up with the game-winning triple which was a great at-bat," said Damon Hollins, the hitting coach in his second stint with Idaho Falls (was the hitting coach for the 2013 Pioneer League champion team) and another former Major Leaguer. "Freddy fouled off some tough pitches. He shortened up his swing like we talk about as an organization. He came up huge for our squad."
            The Chukars have had a history of fielding solid catchers, from Salvador Perez to Meibrys Viloria. Fermin hopes to join that group.
            With the win, Idaho Falls has one back-to-back season openers. It was the first time that the Chukars have opened the year on the road in more than five seasons. Fermin and company are back in action tomorrow for game two of a four-game series with the Grand Junction Rockies. You can listen to the game on KSPZ, ESPN Radio Idaho Falls on 980 AM and 105.1 FM in the Upper Valley, and 94.5 FM in the Pocatello area. Broadcasts also stream live on 980thezone.com, as well as on KSPZ via the TuneIn app.