Late Error Costs Vibes in 8-7 Loss

By Tyler Petersen

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.  –  A dramatic finish in the final few innings climaxed in the top of the ninth with an error that allowed both the tying and go-ahead run to score for the Owlz.

With a man at second and two outs the Vibes held a one-run lead. Cameron Phelts faced Miguel Pozo who was one out away from another save. Phelts shot a single to right and Gio Diaz charged the ball to gather and throw for a play at the plate. But Diaz did not field it properly and the ball skidded past his glove and rolled all the way to the warning track.

Phelts came all the way around to score on the single + E9.

The game up to that point looked like it was going to be another great comeback victory for the Vibes. Rocky Mountain and Northern Colorado battled back and forth through the early innings before the Owlz jumped ahead 6-4 in the sixth.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Vibes tied it up on a clutch two-out, two-strike RBI double by Ulises Nunez.

The Vibes had it going again in the eighth. Cesar Lopez reached on an error and was bunted over to second by Joe Encarnacion. Gio Diaz, who to this point already had two hits and an RBI, slapped the first pitch he saw to right for a base hit, scoring Lopez. It was another good offensive night for Diaz.

But in the ninth, Pozo came in and gave up an infield single on a close play at first. Nick Michaels was adjudged to have brought his foot off the bag at first, a charge the Vibes dugout vehemently denied.  And as it turned out that runner would be the fateful tying run.

One could pontificate the ramifications of a game such as this, how this might affect the teams going forward, momentum, confidence, yada yada. The great thing about baseball is you play again tomorrow. New and fresh.

The Vibes and Owlz go at it again tomorrow at 6:30 pm. It's another $1 Hot Dog Wednesday!