Fun Fourth of July Series Finale Falls in NoCo's Favor

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- NoCo found a way in this back-and-forth Fourth of July series finale, rocking Rockies relievers en route a one-run win.

In this 9-8 finish, Grand Junction (19-14) once again put down double-digit Owlz (14-19) batters on strikes. Nine of those strikeouts came from the starter.

GJ also surrendered 15 NoCo hits, just two shy of the team's season high. Tim Bouchard bashed four hits to tie his team's season-best mark for a single game. Kevin Higgins and Ty Lewis logged three hits apiece.

Rockies starter Josh Agnew attacked all of Monday's hitters like he did in his other two starts against the Owlz. Grand Junction's ace served up his second nine-strikeout game versus NoCo this season. He got 16 of the 21 batters he faced tied up in two-strike counts.

Agnew also allowed three runs. First, Brandon Crosby cashed in, driving in the affair's first run for the second-straight day. During Monday's second inning, he drilled a down-the-line double past the third baseman and scored Kevin Higgins. Crosby's fourth RBI in his last three games gave the Owlz a one-run head start.

But Grand Junction grabbed their own lead in no time. A hit batsman, a walk, and a single against Jerryell Rivera filled the bases. When the Owlz couldn't turn a double play, one run came in. The second one was sent home after a run-scoring single, and the Rockies reached a 2-1 lead.

NoCo's next turn saw bases left loaded. Then, Grand Junction juiced the bases the next half inning after three Rivera walks. A wild pitch plated one Rockies run. Their shortstop, Shawn Ross, with the infield in, invited home two more runs by ripping a six-hole-seeking ground-ball single, and Grand Junction led 5-1.

Agnew lasted a little longer after that, surrendering another run after Bouchard bopped a backside double that scored Alex Jackson.

When it was time for GJ's Gaylan Young, the Owlz really started the fun. A few pitches into Young's afternoon, Lewis tattooed a three-run tater that tied the ballgame. His third yak of the year made it 5-5 after the fifth.

Lewis laced the lead-grabbing single in the seventh. He hit in Bouchard, who singled to start the inning, before Higgins hauled it home after a Rockies fielding error. That action added two runs, and the Owlz led 7-5.

Hector Yan relieved Rivera, and he had some major moments on the mound. Colton Williams did well enough in his short stint.

But Emmanuel Rosario really deserves the credit for keeping the Owlz advantage intact.

When Rosario entered in the seventh, he dodged danger and ducked out of a bases-loaded jam. After NoCo notched another run in the eighth, Rosario recorded a huge strikeout to end the inning. His lone punch out preserved the lead by stranding two more Rockies runners.

Christian Griffin (S, 1) got the final three outs, two of which came via strikeout.

Both these teams combined to strand 21 runners. At the same time, the Owlz doubled up Grand Junction in hits with runners on base. NoCo knocked eight such hits while the Rockies registered four.

A fine finale to a shoddy series offensively is exactly the jolt this group needed. The Owlz are back home starting Wednesday for an abbreviated series against Ogden. Six games in four days awaits the Owlz on the other side of Tuesday's day-off. Thursday July 7 and Saturday July 9 will each be double-header days.

Tickets for all four games can be found at this link or at the box office ahead of every home game. All tickets are $10.

See you Wednesday!