Largest Crowd of 2019 Witness Vibes Walk-off in Dramatic Fashion Against Raptors
Colorado Springs, COLORADO - Series openers have been rather harsh on the Vibes, but tonight, UCHealth Park felt plenty of good vibrations. The Vibes captured their first series opener since July 30th, walking off with a 7-6 victory on Saturday night in Colorado Springs. The largest crowd in UCHealth Park's history-7,048-all
Colorado Springs, COLORADO - Series openers have been rather harsh on the Vibes, but tonight, UCHealth Park felt plenty of good vibrations. The Vibes captured their first series opener since July 30th, walking off with a 7-6 victory on Saturday night in Colorado Springs. The largest crowd in UCHealth Park's history-7,048-all witnessed the fourth walk-off in the Vibes' inaugural season.
It was an ideal pitcher's matchup with the Vibes sending All-Star
The Vibes offense would bounce back from the shutout loss on Thursday night producing the seven runs on 13 hits; eight of them for extra bases. The underlying offensive highlight came from left fielder
After scoring just four runs in their final two games of the roadtrip, the offense matched that run total in just the second inning. Catcher Nick Kahle led off the inning with a double off the left field wall, and right fielder
The Raptors would respond in the top of the fifth inning. With one out and a runner on, designated hitter
With two outs and third baseman
No game with the Raptors is a simple task however. The Raptors came within one in the top of the seventh after back-to-back leadoff singles from second baseman
The Vibes would add insurance in the bottom of the eighth. After Devanney reached safely on an error through the shortstop's legs, Egnatuk would drive him home on a single to right to make it 6-4. Again though, no game with the Raptors is a simple task.
The Raptors tied the game in the top of the ninth with an RBI-single by Mendoza, followed by an RBI single by Ching two batters later.
As the leadoff man in the bottom of the ninth, Gray Jr. played the role of hero, and ended the game in outstanding fashion with a walkoff bomb.
The Vibes are home for their second-to-last homestand of 2019, set to wrap up on 8/24. The Vibes will host the Ogden Raptors for a four-game set followed by a four-game series against the Orem Owlz before the team heads out on their final road trip of the year on 8/26. For all information on the Vibes, follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @vibesbaseball and visit the team's website at www.vibesbaseball.com.
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Tomorrow's Preview: The Vibes continue their eight-game homestand with the second game of a four-game series against the Ogden Raptors, with first pitch set for 1:30 p.m. The Raptors are slated to start righty
Bad Luck Begue: In Thursday night's series finale against the Great Falls Voyagers, despite throwing five strong innings, allowing just one run on five hits with no walks and a pair of strikeouts, starter
Torres Swipes: Bryan Torres stole his 14th and 15th bags of the season on 8/13 and 8/14 to move him into sole possession of second place (as of 8/17) in the Pioneer League in steals, behind only
Rodriguez Streaking: Since joining the Vibes on 7/25, Carlos Rodriguez has become an offensive mainstay for the team, posting not just one but two four-hit games (8/8 @ BIL & 8/14 @ GTF), becoming the first and only Vibes player with two four-hit games. Coming into this homestand, Rodriguez had an active eight-game hitting streak which tied the longest for any Vibes hitter this season. He extended that to a Vibes-best nine games on Saturday night with a single. In those nine games, Rodriguez had multiple hits in three of them for 16 total hits including a triple, a walk, a stolen base, and five runs. Through his first 18 games, Rodriguez had hits in all but two of them, starting his tenure with the Vibes with a four-game hitting streak, then going 0-for-4 on 7/30, then having a three-game hitting streak before going 0-for-4 on 8/3, before launching into his current hitting streak.
Trouble Getting Started: With the loss to Great Falls last Monday night in game one of that four-game series, the Vibes fell to a dismal 4-13 record in game one's this season. However, with the walkoff win on Saturday night in game one of the four-game series against the Raptors, the Vibes improve to 5-13 with a win in game one over Ogden.
Vibes vs. Pioneer Northern Review: The Thursday night contest against the Great Falls Voyagers marked the final time the Vibes would face a Northern Division opponent in the regular season. The Vibes finished 7-9 against their two opponents, 4-4 against the Billings Mustangs and 3-5 against the Great Falls Voyagers.
Dominant Hitting: The Vibes offense showed up in a big way on Tuesday night against the Voyagers with 15 total hits, which tied the Vibes season-high in hits, which came way back on 6/16 in the third game of the season in Orem against the Owlz. Every Vibes hitter collected at least one hit on the night, with two Vibes hitters collecting two (Avalo and Kahle) and another two getting three hits on the night (Gray Jr. and Sano).
...and Even More Dominant Pitching: On Tuesday night the Vibes pitching staff pitched arguably their best game of the year. Starter
Penultimate Homestand: The Vibes are currently in the midst of their second-to-last homestand of 2019, set to culminate on 8/24. Their final road trip is set to begin on 8/26 in Ogden and conclude on 9/2 in Grand Junction. The final homestand will run from 9/3-9/7, with all five of those final games being played against the Grand Junction Rockies prior to the 2019 season ending on 9/7.
Milligan Sighting!: Bryce Milligan made his professional debut with the Vibes on Monday night against the Great Falls Voyagers, throwing one shutout inning in relief, allowing a sole hit and striking out one batter.
This Week's Preview: The Vibes are home for their second-to-last homestand of 2019, set to wrap up on 8/24. The Vibes will host the Ogden Raptors for a four-game set followed by a four-game series against the Orem Owlz before the team heads out on their final road trip of the year on 8/26.
NEXT GAME: Sunday, August 18 @ 1:30 p.m. MT vs. Ogden Raptors @ UCHealth Park
RHP Jeronimo Castro (3-0, 2.92) vs. RHP Michele Vassalotti (4-4, 6.19) - Broadcast: MiLB TuneIn app
PROMOTION: Diamond Giveaway presented by McNulty Jewelers, 50-cent hot dog Sunday presented by Parker St. Claire Realty, and Bark in the Park sponsored by Pet Pantry
RMV TOP PERFORMERS
Joe Gray Jr. (2-for-3, HR, R, RBI, 2 BB)
Ernesto Martinez Jr.(2-for-3, R, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, BB)
Karsen Lindell (5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 SO)
OGD TOP PERFORMERS
Cesar Mendoza (3-for-3, 2 R, RBI, BB)
Jeremy Arocho (2-for-3, 2 R, BB
Jorbit Vivas (2-for-4, HR, R, 3 RBI)