Chiefs win 3-2 over Henderson; new OVL tie-breaker rule invoked for first time

On Monday night, the Paducah Chiefs went into an extra inning to beat the Henderson Flash, 3-2 at Brooks Stadium. The Chiefs are 2-1 on their young season.

The first extra-inning game of the season also highlighted the Ohio Valley League's new way that games are settled if they're tied at the end of nine innings.

Before every game, at the pregame plate meeting, the home team must pick to be either the offensive team or defensive team in extra innings.

If the game is tied after nine innings, the teams take the field in accordance with the selection at the pregame plate meeting. The offensive team starts the inning with a runner at first base (the position player making the last out of the prior inning). If the offensive team scores a run, they win; if the defensive team retires the side without allowing a run to score, they win.

The rule is in place to save bullpen arms in extra inning ballgames, get teams and fans and game personnel home at a reasonable hour, and add a level of "sudden death" excitement to extra inning ballgames.  

(If the defensive team retires the side, a run is credited to that team for the purposes of indicating the winning team only and is not charged to any pitcher from the offensive team.)

The Chiefs are on the road to Hopkinsville Tuesday, then come back to Brooks Stadium Wednesday to host the as-yet undefeated Full Count Rhythm. Game time is 6:30.

All games can be heard on 99.5 The Fan.