Hero Ball in 8th Nets a Vibes Victory
By Tyler Petersen
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A six-run bottom of the eighth propelled the Vibes to their first second half win in a high-scoring 16-14 contest.
Newcomer Nick Michaels got the scoring started in the bottom of the second with an RBI single. His teammates followed suit in the inning with Joe Encarnacion adding his own RBI single, Josh Glenn driving in two on a double, and Ulysses Cantu finishing off the inning with another run-scoring double. The run racketeering extorted a total of five in the inning.
It was only the beginning of what would turn out to be a 30-run night.
NoCo answered back with three runs in the third then the Vibes returned their call with two in the bottom of the inning. Again, it was Michaels and Encarnacion who drove in runs.
Another three runs from NoCo in the fourth brought it back to a one-run ballgame. The Vibes did their best to keep pace with a two-run home run by Ulysses Cantu, his team-leading ninth of the year.
The Owlz had their biggest breakthrough of the game in the sixth. Four runs on four hits including two triples gave NoCo their first lead of the game, 11-10. Adding yet another run in the seventh gave the visitors a 12-10 lead.
At this point the Owlz scored the last five runs in the game and had at least one run in each of the last five innings. After scoring 12 runs last night earned the Owlz a win, it appeared tonight's game would similarly go their way.
Pete Bayer came out of the bullpen and pitched a scoreless top of the eighth. Finally with an ounce of momentum, Rocky Mountain went on the offensive.
A single by Cantu and a double by Luis Navarro put the Vibes in a good spot to make hay. Chance Wilkerson came out of the bullpen for NoCo looking to get out of the jam. He walked Ethan Lopez then faced Nick Michaels with the bases loaded.
Michaels, who already drove in two, lined a single to center, bringing in two more, to tie the game at 12. A blown save for Wilkerson and the Vibes weren't done yet.
Glenn had a two-run single as well, giving him four RBI for the game also. Cantu had the third two-run single of the inning, for a game-high five RBI. It was a six-run barrage and the Vibes led 16-12.
Miguel Pozo came into the ninth, allowed two runs, but struck out four batters (!!!) to close out the game.
The rubber match of the short three game set is tomorrow night at 6:30 pm before both teams travel north for another three game series at a different venue.
