RUPERT - Cody Winmill almost willed Minico to victory in Game 1 of a doubleheader with the Idaho Falls Reds Wednesday, but his four solid innings of relief plus a perfect performance from the plate weren't enough as the Reds beat the Spartans 12-8.

Winmill relieved Chris Joyce with two out in the third inning and Minico trailing 9-1. Winmill struck out two, walked three and gave up just three hits the rest of the way, putting the Spartans in position to rally.

"This is a good lesson going into districts," Minico coach Ben Frank said. "You've got to stick in there and keep scrapping because you never know when you're going to put together your big inning and be right back in the game."

Minico's big inning came in the sixth, sparked by a lead-off single by Bronson Miller, who later scored on a double by Landon Barnes. Then, on the first pitch he saw from Idaho Falls reliever Chris Birkinbine, Winmill blasted a three-run homer off the scoreboard in right field.

"That was one of my hardest-hit bombs I've ever hit," said Winmill. "Before I even started my swing, I knew something good was going to happen with that ball. The ball was breaking right into me and I like hitting the inside pitch, so he put it right in my alley."

The home run made it a 10-8 ballgame, but Idaho Falls added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh on a two-RBI double by Cole Braase.

"I felt it was one of my better days on the mound," Winmill said. "My change-up and fastball felt good. It was just that last hit (by Braase), I hung that change-up a little too high and the kid put a good stroke on it."

Minico dug itself an early hole as Joyce had his breaking ball going, but couldn't locate his fastball. The Reds capitalized, scattering six hits in the first two innings.

Jordan Motes hit a two-run homer off of Joyce in the first. Idaho Falls loaded the bases in the second and four more runs crossed the plate. After a three-run double by Ben Clauer in the third, Idaho Falls had a comfortable 9-1 lead.

"Offensively we put up enough runs and enough hits to win, but we didn't get it done pitching-wise early on," Frank said.

Despite the loss, it was a good day for Winmill, who batted 4-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI.

"In a way it's good because it's a confidence booster to be on a good hitting streak, but in the end we still end up losing, so I'm pretty upset about how the game ended up."

Results from Game 2 were unavailable at press time.

Minico will host Madison for a doubleheader at 5 p.m., Friday.

Idaho Falls 12, Minico 8

Idaho Falls 243 010 2 - 12 13 1

Minico 100 115 0 - 8 11 2

Cole Braase, Chris Birkinbine and Cody Durbin; Chris Joyce, Cody Winmill (3) and Alex Moon. W: Braase. L: Joyce.

Extra-base hits - 2B: Idaho Falls, Birkinbine, Ben Clauer; Minico, Joyce, Winmill (2), Landon Barnes. HR: Idaho Falls, Jordan Motes; Minico, Winmill.