Tom Kotchman answered only a couple of questions before slamming two doors, getting changed and getting the heck out of Brent Brown Ballpark on Friday night.

"Deservedly so," said Gabe Jacobo, who appears to be the only player at the immediate moment who can come up with something resembling a big hit or a touch of urgency.

His fourth consecutive home game in which he knocked one over the fence still wasn't enough as Casper finished off a two-game series sweep, 7-5.

It was an important outcome. The Ghosts (23-12) have a half-game lead on the Owlz (23-13) as the first half of the Pioneer League race in the South Division winds down this weekend.

Orem has a pair of home games against Idaho Falls (14-22 as of Friday), while Casper finishes with three at Ogden (16-19). The latter series includes a doubleheader tonight and the conclusion of a game that was cut early in Wyoming.

Since Kotchman arrived in Utah County, from being the Provo Angels manager to the Owlz starting in the 2005 season, it's been a rite of summer for the Los Angeles Angels rookie-league affiliate to make the playoffs by at least winning one of the two 38-game races.

Orem won the league title last year. Of course, it's mostly a new hand dealt Kotchman this year, as it is every season.

It's appeared various times this year that he's playing blackjack and the roster is trying poker.

The longtime manager and the boatload of fresh faces don't seem to be jelling. Kotchman's tried numerous speeches. He had one night, after another stomach-churning loss -- like this one, it stemmed from a lack of early effort -- when he held a post-game practice.

He's clearly fed up. Or at least he was as he calmly left the stadium before his players had wrapped up a meeting with the assistant coaches.

"Go talk to the players about the last nine days," Kotchman said. "I'm tired of making excuses for them."

In the last nine games, Orem is 4-5. There was a four-game winning streak, but Orem has lost 3-of-4.

Last night showed why. Orem again fell behind, this time 7-1 after scoring first in the second inning.

Again, Casper had a four-run inning (fifth). And Casper's starting pitcher, Matt Baugh, went seven strong innings before being pulled in the eighth -- the Ghosts' longest outing by a starter this season.

Baugh finally was pulled after surrendering a three-run homer to Jacobo with no outs. That made it 7-4. But runners on first and third were abandoned.

Orem added a run in the ninth when Darwin Perez hit a one-out triple and scored on a groundout.

Insulting, though, that so many opportunities were wasted. Orem had an advantage on hits, 11-9, but also showed severe impatience at the plate -- for example, retired in the sixth inning on four pitches.

"We're not getting timely hits like we need to," Jacobo said.

Players solemnly exited the locker room, checked out the pre-game schedule for today. The beauty of baseball is it comes quickly. At 7 p.m. to be exact, against the Chukars. Orem likely needs to win this one and another Sunday to have a chance at being the first-half champs.

"We'll get it back together," Jacobo said. "We'll get it back on track."