Another Exciting Late Comeback Win for Rocky Mountain
By Tyler Petersen
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – For the second night in a row, a major rally in the bottom of the eighth lifted the Rocky Mountain Vibes to victory over the Northern Colorado Owlz. The Vibes won the rubber match of the three-game homestand 8-7.
Once again early on it seemed as if it was going to be NoCo that was going to come away with victory on the night, getting out to a 4-0 lead in the 5th inning.
Owlz starter Preston Snavely was putting together a dominating performance to that point. Through four innings, he had only allowed two hits and struck out four batters. In the bottom of the fifth Rocky Mountain finally got on the board. A two-out RBI double by Ulysses Cantu finally put a blemish on Snavely's line.
The Owlz were locked in though. They scored two more in the next inning off Yohandry Perez and Snavely bucked back down for a 1-2-3 sixth.
In the seventh Snavely allowed a leadoff single to Cesar Lopez but struck out the next two batters, giving him nine Ks on the night. Gio Diaz singled to keep the inning alive bringing up Cantu again.
NoCo manager Robby Bales went out to the mound, had a chat with Snavely, and left him in the game to face Cantu. The first pitch Snavely threw was hit a long way over the centerfield wall for a three-run home run, Cantu's 10th of the season. The Vibes were within two now at 6-4.
One more run for the Owlz in the top of the eighth gave them a little more breathing room, but it would be their last of the game.
Tonight's eighth began much last night night's, with back-to-back hits – singles from Luis Navarro and Nick Michaels. Chance Benton then entered the game for the Owlz. He already logged a save earlier in the series and had another opportunity in front of him.
After a fielder's choice to get the runner at third, Cesar Lopez added another hit, loading the bases. Mike Annone came off the bench to pinch-hit and drew a walk on a full count, making it a 7-5 game. Brandon Perez came up and shot a ball into left field for a base hit, scoring another run, making it a 7-6 game.
Then something unexpected.
Gio Diaz struck out, giving Benton a shot to get out of the inning with the lead intact if he could retire Ulysses Cantu.
Cantu grounded to second but the ball was bobbled by the second baseman and his hurried flip to the shortstop at the bag pulled him off ever so slightly to produce a safe call from the umpire. The game was tied on a two-out error.
Ethan Lopez now had a chance to give the Vibes the lead. The very next pitch he hit a ball to short and the shortstop threw the ball high to first, pulling the first baseman off the base, another two-out error.
The game went sideways, completely perpendicular to the previous two hours of play. It was the Vibes on top now, leading 8-7.
Miguel Pozo came into the ninth to lock down his third save of the season. The first batter reached on a passed ball on a strikeout and was moved to third on a sac bunt and groundout to the right side.
That's certainly small ball.
The tying run was 90 feet away, but Pozo induced another grounder, this time to third, and a great scoop by Luis Navarro on the throw to first sealed it.
The Vibes now travel to NoCo for a three game series starting tomorrow and going through Sunday.
At least for tonight, they are tied for first in the South, with a record of 2-1.
