Vibes Win in Game Full of Runs, Hits, Errors
By Tyler Petersen
OGDEN, Utah – On a night that had a combined 18 runs, 24 hits, and 8 errors, the Vibes broke their three-game losing streak winning 11-7.
But first a correction to issue:
Last night the standings were not updated on the Pioneer League website, leading me to prematurely crown the Raptors as Southern Division Champions in yesterday's article. Since the Rockies won tonight and hold the tiebreaker between the teams, the Raptors magic number is still "1".
Ok, now that my penance is complete, onto the action from tonight.
It was the Vibes who had the quick start out of the gates, scoring four runs in the top of the first. Mike Annone and Domonique Hernandez both had RBI singles and two wild pitches by Ogden starter Ronny Orta let in a run each.
Jorge Leo had a clean 1-2-3 first but got roughed up in the second. Jesus Valdez hit a solo home run to left field to get Ogden on the board. The Raptors continued to be felonious on the base paths, as they have been throughout the series. And the threat of the stolen base led to mistakes on defense. Dakota Conners walked then stole second. On the steal the throw from catcher Luis Navarro went into centerfield allowing Conners to go to third. Sonny Ulliana hit him in to make it 4-2. Ogden added a third run in the third on an RBI groundout.
A one-run lead in the fourth grew slightly thanks to a lead-off home run by Ethan Lopez's, his third of the season.
Errors struck again in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs Josh Broughton popped a ball into short right field which Ulysses Cantu dropped. Pat Adams drove him in one at-bat later. Adams swiped second and again Navarro threw the ball into centerfield. As Adams was heading to third, Andrew Hanson overran the ball in center, allowing Adams to come home on the second error on the play.
The game was tied 5-5 after five.
The offense went right back to work in the sixth. Brandon Perez came up to the plate with the bases loaded and one out against Orta. He sent a ball high and deep to center which banged off the wall, scoring two runs for a long single. Gio Diaz followed up with his own RBI single for the third run of the inning.
The scoring continued in the top of the eighth. Diaz copied his result in the sixth with another RBI single and Cesar Lopez copied him with an RBI single of his own. The Vibes were up 10-6.
Then it was time for the Vibes to get a run for free. Diaz advanced 90 feet to third on a passed ball and the catcher Ulliana threw the ball into left field. Diaz trotted home for run number 11.
Seth Davis pitched the final two innings and ended the game surrendering only one run.
The Vibes ended two streaks, their three-game losing streak and the Raptors' seven-game winning streak.
The third-to-last game of the first half is tomorrow at 7:00 pm.
